The Last Boyfriend (Forever Love #1)(7)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“Well, I bet they are.” He smiled at me gently, though I noticed that his eyes were slightly glazed.

“Yeah.” I let my voice drift off as I felt tears pricking my eyes. I didn’t want to be talking about this right now. “So how did you get the name Braydon? It’s not that common either.”

“My mother made it up.” He laughed and ran his hands over his baldhead. “She wanted a name that no other kid had. So she made up Braydon.”

“It’s a cool name.”

“A cool name for an uncool guy.” He laughed modestly. I stared at him as he laughed, and I was about to say something when I realized that he looked really really familiar.

“Hey, do I know you?” I cocked my head, trying to think where I knew him from. “I don’t think I do, but there is something about your face.”

“Aw drats, you finally figured it out.” He shook his head, and I saw a red flush across his cheeks. “I’m Braydon Eagle.”

“Uhm, okay.” I paused, not really sure what I was suppose to have figured out.

“You still don’t know, do you?” He laughed and looked amused.

“No, sorry.” I bit my lip and flushed, embarrassed that I had no clue.

“That’s okay. I had to shave my hair off last week. Imagine me with a full head of bleach blond hair.”

“OMG!” I looked at him in surprise. “You’re Braydon Eagle.” I felt my cheeks heat up. He was the famous actor Braydon Eagle. He had been a child star and had recently hit it big in movies. Hollywood called him the new Leonardo DiCaprio. I even had a poster of him on my wall when I was in grade school.

“Don’t tell anyone though.” He laughed and ran his hand over his head again.

“You look truly different without the hair.”

“I know. I’m trying to get used to it myself.” He laughed self-consciously. “No one’s mistaking me for a surfer now.”

“At least you can be incognito.”

“That’s always nice at parties like these.”

“I would have thought you enjoyed all the attention.”

“Not really.” He laughed. “Well, I used to. Now, not so much. I’ve had enough of the Hollywood life.”

“I’m surprised anyone could have enough of that.” I smiled and leaned back into the chair comfortably. “I don’t know many guys who would say that.”

“It’s about quality and not quantity.” He laughed. “Listen to me. I sound like a douche, don’t I?”

“Not at all.” I said honestly.

“Hey Lucky, am I going to get Lucky tonight?” Evan shouted from across the room, and I blushed uncomfortably.

“Shut up, Evan.” Braydon shook his head and leaned into me.

“You got anything, Braydon, my man here is looking to score.”

“Evan, stop smoking the weed. I have no idea what you are talking about.” Braydon rolled his eyes and leaned towards me. “Ignore him. He’s just being an ass.”

“Thanks.” I smiled gratefully. “Though that’s not the first time I have heard that witty comment. I don’t know why guys think they are the first ones to come up with the getting lucky tonight comment.”

“Hopefully not all of them were as annoying as Evan.”

“Not all.” I grinned, and Braydon laughed.

“So, what do you do for a living, Lucky?”

“I’m in college, and I work.”

“Oh yeah? Where do you go to school?”

“University of Miami.”

“Nice. I was thinking of applying there.”

“Really?” I looked at him in disbelief.

“Well, kind of.” He laughed. “I was going to be in the remake of Miami Vice, but they decided to postpone the series, and then I decided to make the leap from TV to films. But it’s always good to have something to fall back on. You can’t have enough money.”

“Oh, okay.” I wanted to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t imagining anything. The whole situation felt surreal. I couldn’t quite believe that I was in a room, sitting on a couch with Braydon Eagle, one of the hottest young stars in Hollywood. Things like this just didn’t happen to me.

“What are you studying?”

“History.” I laughed at the expression on his face. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to quiz you.”

“Thanks. I can barely remember our current President’s name. Don’t ask me anyone else’s.”

“That’s okay. I don’t think history is a popular subject.” I smiled.

“So when do you graduate?”

“Next year. I hope.” I laughed.

“And what’s next?”

“No idea.”

“Well you still have time.”

“Yeah.” I ran my hands through my hair and grimaced as I felt the frizzy waves. So much for my straight tresses, I thought. The humidity had taken care of that.

“Do you think you’ll be a teacher?” Braydon continued. “I’ve always seen myself marrying a teacher.”

I didn’t quite know how to answer his question and tried to formulate a response in my mind before the door opened.

“Hey y’all. We’re here.” A tall, leggy blonde walked into the room giggling, and I watched her curiously. She was beautiful. Maybe one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen in my life.

“What’s up, Angelique?” Evan whistled at her, and she giggled again.

“Nada, Zane and I want to get this party started.” I froze at her words and looked towards the door and saw Zane standing there. He had a beer in his hand, and the top buttons of his white shirt were undone.

“Yo bro, what up?” Evan jumped up and fist bumped him.

“Not much. What’s happening, Evan?” Zane didn’t smile as he spoke nonchalantly. He looked relaxed, but I could sense a weird tension coming from him.

“Come on, Zane.” The blonde grabbed his arm and pulled him into the room. I felt a dart of jealousy as he allowed her to guide him in further. I turned away, and looked at Braydon and smiled.

“I have been thinking about teaching or going to grad school.”

“Awesome. I’ve always wondered …” I knew that Braydon was still talking, but I could feel Zane’s eyes on me. My body froze, and I moved my face slightly to look at him. He studied me on the couch with Braydon and nodded before turning away from me, and I felt my body flush with confusion.