The Last Boyfriend (Forever Love #1)(21)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“I’m coming on pretty strong, huh?”

“You could say that.” I sipped some of my drink. “Let’s just enjoy some good food. I think I’ve had too many intense conversations today.”

“Okay. That sounds like a plan.” Braydon looked bashful and I felt bad for him, but I was not in the mood for another life-defining moment.

“I guess it would be too much to ask you what other intense conversations you had today?”

“Yes, yes it would.” I racked my brain for something else to talk about. “So what made you want to be an actor?”

“My parents.” He laughed. “My mom was obsessed with Hollywood. She had tried to be an actress for so long, but she never made it, and so she ended up marrying my dad instead. And from the age of six months, she paraded me to every agent there was. I suppose it helped that I was a cute kid.”

“With your thick blond hair and big brown eyes.” I laughed.

“Yeah.” He grinned. “I got lucky actually.” He laughed. “No pun intended. The blond hair and blue eye babies were a dime a dozen, but the blond hair and brown eye kids were pretty hard to come by.”

“You were a diamond in a store of sapphires.” I groaned at my analogy. “Well, you know what I mean.”

“Yes I do. And you’re correct. I was lucky and got cast from an early age and there’s been no looking back.”

“Now, you’re Braydon Eagle, successful movie star.” I smiled gently, still slightly fazed that I was sitting across the table from him. I felt a bit troubled that I wasn’t able to enjoy the moment more, as my mind was still on Zane.

“Well if you think riches equal success, then yes. But if you equate success by good friends and love, then no.” He sighed.

“Well you have one, and hopefully, the others will come soon.”

“I hope so as well.” He looked at me intently. “It’s funny. They say that one man can’t have everything. But I want to prove them wrong.”

“You mean the career and money versus love debate?”

“Yeah. I used to think for a long time that love was closed off to me. Being an actor, you never really know who you can trust. I thought that I would just have to accept the groupies and accept that I would have a trophy wife. But now …”

I didn’t want to ask him, but now what? In all honesty, he was starting to get on my nerves. He had only known me for a day or so. I’m not a bombshell and I didn’t think my conversation had been that witty either. I mean, I know I’m pretty friendly, but I don’t think I’m great enough to warrant the endless stream of wonder and praise that was emanating from his mouth. Perhaps his real goal should be to move from acting and become a poet. He certainly knew how to wax on. I started laughing to myself at my wax on thought and Braydon looked at me curiously.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be funny. Am I boring you?”

“No, of course not.” Yes, you are boring me, I thought. Let’s talk about something else. This isn’t a Hollywood movie. We don’t have to fall in love in five seconds and have 2.4 kids in as many years.

“I’ve been accused of being a bit too serious in relationships.”

“Oh?” Relationships? What was he talking about? I kept a pleasant smile on my face, but I was starting to think that Braydon Eagle was bonkers and perhaps on drugs as well. I giggled and kept my head down. Shit, I thought to myself. The alcohol was getting to me. I was a pretty light drinker and I was pretty sure that this drink contained a high level of alcohol. I could feel in my head that I was a little tipsy and I was scared that I was going to tell Braydon just how ridiculous he was acting. And I didn’t want to do that. There was something about Braydon that I liked, deep inside. He seemed like an honest genuine guy. And I was surprised that I wasn’t in awe of him.

“What are you thinking right now, Lucky?”

“I’m thinking that this is a totally cool moment.” I grinned. “I am here sitting with a huge star and I feel like I’m out with a regular friend.”

“I like that.” Braydon smiled and we both laughed as a woman ran up to the table and asked him for an autograph. As Braydon smiled at the young lady and signed her napkin, I wondered at how down to earth he seemed. He was the sort of guy that I felt could make me happy. He was a forever sort of guy. I sat back and smiled to myself. Maybe everything was going to work out after all.

***

“I’m so sorry for getting you home so late.” Braydon parked his car and turned to me. “I didn’t think we would be out this long.”

“It’s okay.” I hiccupped and closed my eyes. “I shouldn’t have had so much to drink.”

“You only had three.” He laughed.

“I’m pretty sure each drink was like two and a half normal drinks.” I sighed. “I only hope that I don’t have to be up too early tomorrow morning.”

“What time is Zane picking you up?”

“I forgot.” I started to shake my head and groaned. “Oh my gosh. I need to go to bed. I feel like I’m going to be sick.”

“Oh no.” Braydon jumped out of the car and ran to open my door. “Maybe you should get out?”

“I don’t want to puke in your Fiat.” I agreed.

“It’s a Bugatti.”

“Huh?” I frowned. “But it looks like a Fiat because it’s flat.” I laughed. “You have a flat Fiat and a big hairy cat and it’s sitting on the mat wearing a woolly cap, no, no, wearing a woolly hat. The cat in the hat on the mat in the Fiat.” I laughed and fell against Braydon as he helped me out of the car.

“You’re really drunk, aren’t you?”

“Nope.” I hiccupped again. “I’m just relaxing before Zane takes me to LA to be his assistant.”

“Yeah.” Braydon frowned. “You don’t have to go you know. If you need a job you can be my assistant.”

“Really?” I looked at him in surprise. “Would I get a Fiat as well?”

“I don’t …”

“Wait til I tell Shayla and Maria that I’m getting a Fiat.” I laughed and then stopped still. “Oh nooo, I can’t remember if I called them and told them about my new job.”

“I’m sure you can do that in the morning.”

“I’m so bad.”