Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
We hug, but she pulls away immediately and looks at the ground. I’m not a fan of how awkward things are between us. Hopefully, we can fix that later.
“Spencer James!” my old coworker, Scott, calls out as he walks in. “Glad you could make it. And who is this?” Scott asks, smiling kindly at Leila. The guy has always been like a real dad to me, and he treats everyone like they’re his best friend.
“I’m Leila,” she says, placing a glass of champagne on the bar to shake his hand. “Spencer’s girlfriend.”
“Ah, yes, I remember seeing the pictures. I’m Scott. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Thanks, you, too.”
We mingle for another thirty minutes, talking with other people from the movie as well as the crew who made it happen. The wardrobe designer compliments my suit, so I guess all my fiddling worked out.
“Are you doing okay?” I ask Leila after one of the other actors in the movie walks away. “I don’t want to overwhelm you.”
“I’m good. This is nowhere near as crazy as a club. Thank you for taking me to more lowkey things. I appreciated the coffee date the other day, and this is much more my speed. Maybe we’ve found something we both like.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t do a lot of movie premiers.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s a shame. But still. Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, Leila. I’m glad you’re having a good time.”
We smile at each other, and I’m about to lean in for a kiss when there’s a tap on my shoulder. I turn and find the absolute last person I wanted to see at this premier standing behind me, wearing an extravagant, gold dress that would be better suited for the Oscars than this indie premier.
“What a small world!” Candy says, pulling me in for a hug. “Who would’ve thought we’d both be here.”
“Well, I’m in this movie, so at least I make sense. Why are you here?”
She shrugs. “My agent thought it’d be good for me. Aren’t you glad to see me?”
I blow out a breath. “I’m glad you could make it. It’s a good film. I hope you like scary things.”
“Maybe you can protect me,” she says, batting her eyelashes at me.
Behind us, Leila clears her throat. “Hey, we met at the club the other night. Mandy, was it?”
Smoke comes from Candy’s nose. “It’s CANDY.”
“Ah, right. Well, I’m Leila, and I think we should be taking our seats, right, Spencer?”
“I thought I took care of you the other night. You can play dress-up all you want …”
“Enough, Candy. Leila never did anything to you. Leave her alone.”
I take my girlfriend’s hand – well, my fake girlfriend, I guess – and we take our champagne and popcorn into the theater. I help her find our assigned seats right in the middle of the theater. It makes it hard for my speech but good for the view.
“I’m really sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry. She doesn’t bother me anymore. She definitely did that the first time, but I’m over it now. I don’t get why she’s so catty. And why she would flirt with you right there! She obviously saw me.”
I laugh. “I didn’t flirt back.”
“I noticed. She comes on strong, doesn’t she? No one likes that.”
“Truth.”
Our conversation is stifled when the lights go down and a single spotlight hits in front of the big screen. Scott walks out and addresses the crowd, then calls me over. I make a quick speech about how proud I am of the movie and how excited I am to share, then join Leila back in our seats.
She snuggles close to me throughout the movie. I hadn’t seen the finished cut yet, and I’m glad I waited until I could watch it with Leila. It turned out well, and I got to cuddle with my girl the whole time.
After it’s finished, I get up to applause and meet Scott in front of the screen once more. We filter some questions about the movie and what we might do next. I plug the movie I’m filming now and another I have coming out on streaming services in a few months. By the time we’re finished, I’m exhausted.
“That was fun. What a good movie! You were terrifying.”
I laugh. “Thanks. It’s different than anything I’ve done.”
“Do you think you’ll do more horror in the future?”
“You sound like those reporters!” I say, chuckling. “But no, probably not. I think action is more my speed.”
“I can see that. It was good, though. Thanks for bringing me.”
“Thank you for coming,” I say. We’re silent once more as we drive back to my house. I keep my hands to myself, not wanting to break the delicate balance we have.
But I know once we get home, it’s time to have the conversation I’m both excited about and dreading.
Chapter Nineteen – Leila
I try to hide my bouncing legs, but it’s nearly impossible. Tonight felt like a real date.