Chapter Twenty-Two

November 25, 2024

Jacob sat quietly off to the side, watching with rapt attention as the cameras rolled. He was on the set of Reeva's music video for her song Shot of Love, a track that had already earned its place in his mind as one of her best.

He'd been invited to the shoot since he was curious about the whole process, along with his daughter Lenai, who had insisted on tagging along. Lenai was wide-eyed with fascination, constantly asking questions and darting her gaze back and forth between the bustling crew and the captivating performances taking place in front of them.

Jacob's thoughts, however, weren't entirely on Lenai's curious questions or the technical details of the shoot. His gaze was fixed on Kayla and Zilla. They were supposed to be playing a couple in the music video, embodying the essence of Reeva's romantic and passionate song.

The chemistry between Kayla and Zilla, however, seemed to transcend the script basically being themselves, as they were so naturally entwined in each other's orbit that Jacob found himself feeling oddly voyeuristic in the most nonchalant of ways.

Kayla and Zilla were clearly lost in each other. Jacob couldn't help but feel a small pang of envy as he watched them exchange soft, lingering glances and brush their lips together in the slow-motion scenes that were meant to capture the music video's sensuality.

He couldn't deny that it was intimate, electric even, the way they acted as if the cameras weren't there, as if they were alone in an entirely different world where only their love existed.

Jacob couldn't help but think about Reeva, and how she'd originally approached him with the idea of starring in the video together. At the time, it had sounded fun—maybe a bit too indulgent for his taste, but fun.

Now, as he watched Kayla and Zilla immerse themselves so fully into their roles, the thought of doing something like that with Reeva seemed like a missed opportunity.

He had been hesitant at the time, too practical, too self-conscious, or perhaps too afraid of what people would think if he stepped into such an intimate spotlight.

Now, with Reeva in the role of the goddess of love, dressed in a flowing gown that shimmered under the harsh studio lights, Jacob couldn't help but imagine what it might have been like to share the stage with her.

The sensuality that Reeva exuded, even in her divine role, was undeniable. She wasn't just portraying love; she was love, with a magnetic pull that seemed to draw everyone around her into her orbit.

Reeva had that effect on Jacob. When they'd first met, she'd been the kind of person who could light up a room just by walking in. There was a certain intensity about her that Jacob had always admired, and he now saw that same intensity in the way she embodied her character on set. The goddess of love was no mere archetype. She was a force.

But it wasn't just the allure of the video concept that stirred something inside Jacob. It was the realization that had he agreed to do the video with Reeva, they might have shared something truly memorable—an experience that went beyond just the surface-level fun of making a music video.

Watching Kayla and Zilla so immersed in their roles made Jacob wonder if he'd missed out on something deeper, something more personal and meaningful.

As the cameras kept rolling, Jacob found his thoughts drifting back to when Reeva had first broached the idea of the video. It had been over dinner, a casual conversation that quickly evolved into something more serious.

Reeva had mentioned the song, and how it was about savoring a sweet romance and the pleasure, passion, and procreation that came with it. Jacob had laughed, thinking it was just a playful concept, a bit out of his comfort zone but harmless enough.

But then Reeva had looked at him with that sly smile of hers, the one that always seemed to say she knew something he didn't. She had asked, "What do you think? I think you'd be great. We'd be the perfect couple in this."

At the time, Jacob had dismissed it as just another one of Reeva's creative ideas. The thought of being in a video together seemed odd to him, something best left to professionals, not someone like him.

He'd made some excuse, something about being too old for that sort of thing, and laughed it off. But now, watching Kayla and Zilla's effortless chemistry, Jacob felt a strange regret. Maybe he had been too quick to brush the idea off, too comfortable with the life he had carved for himself, content to stay in the background.

He glanced over at Lenai, who was standing near him, her face lit up with curiosity as she watched the shoot unfold. Jacob smiled softly at his daughter.

There was something both comforting and painful about having her by his side at that moment. Comforting because she kept him grounded, a reminder that his life had moved beyond the youthful desires that he now saw mirrored in the couple on-screen.

Painful, because he realized just how long it had been since he'd allowed himself to truly connect with someone the way Kayla and Zilla seemed to connect, so effortlessly, so naturally, and publicly.

"Dad, can I go stand by the cameras to watch them up close?" Lenai asked, her voice breaking into his reverie.

Jacob chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Of course, sweetheart. Just don't get too close, okay? We don't want to distract them while they're working."

Lenai nodded enthusiastically and trotted off toward the crew, her small figure moving with a confidence that reminded Jacob of how much she'd grown in such a short time.

Turning his attention back to the video shoot, Jacob noticed the shift in the mood as the director, Jamar Harding, called for a break. Kayla and Zilla stepped away from the set and were soon surrounded by the crew, laughing and joking as they rehydrated and prepped for the next sequence.

Jacob felt his heart sink a little as he caught sight of Reeva, who was standing off to the side with a group of stylists and makeup artists.

She caught his gaze for a moment, and Jacob felt that familiar pull, that inexplicable connection that he had stuck staring at her. Reeva smiled at him, a soft, knowing smile that made his chest tighten.

Lenai's voice cut through his thoughts again. She had returned to his side, her eyes wide with excitement. "Dad, do you think they're going to kiss again? I mean, on camera, of course," she added quickly, giggling.

Jacob's lips curled into a reluctant smile as he met his daughter's curious gaze. "I don't know, honey."

Lenai nodded sagely as if she understood far more than she should for her age. She was sharp and perceptive—her mother's daughter, no doubt. Jacob found himself momentarily lost in thought again.

As the crew began preparing for the next shot, Jacob looked over at Reeva one last time, then turned back to his daughter.

The cameras were rolling again, and Kayla and Zilla were once more lost in their scene, their lips brushing in slow, deliberate tenderness.

Jacob's heart gave a small jolt. Maybe it was time for him to stop standing on the sidelines, watching the world unfold.