Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
“A little too much. It’s weird how people are paying attention to me. I got invited to parties by people who’ve never talked to me before.”
“You should ignore their advancements. It’s easy to celebrate when people think you are successful. You must be careful and smart with individuals,” Dad warned.
“Yeah, it’s just weird is all.”
Dad placed his fork down and clasped his hands together. “I want to make sure we are on the same page about this school year, Aiden. You know I was against the return because being a public figure makes it harder for you to be a normal teenager. Like you said, people are already treating you differently. So let’s just keep things clean and cut. In and out, do your homework, get your good grades, and report home. Do you understand?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“And have fun,” Mom said, leaning over to squeeze my forearm. “You’re allowed to have fun, too. It’s your senior year!”
Dad grumbled a little but didn’t disagree with Mom. She seemed to be the only person alive who didn’t get his sharp tongue.
“Actually, I was hoping to talk to you about something,” I said. My hands were sweaty, and my nerves were skyrocketing through the roof, but I figured I might as well put it out on the table. Just a few simple words: I don’t want to be an actor anymore. Easy. Effortless.
“One second, Aiden. Don’t you have something else to tell him, Sam?” Mom asked. “What were you telling me earlier?”
Dad shook his head. “We can save that for another time.”
“Samuel,” Mom sternly stated. “Now’s a perfect time.”
He released a weighted sigh and sat up straighter as he looked at me. His brows were knitted. A knot formed in my chest as he gave me his hard stare. The same stare he’d always given me when he was disappointed in something I did. When he parted his mouth, he said something that almost knocked me backward. “I’m proud of you. Of the work you’ve done in the past year and the opportunities you’re creating for yourself in the entertainment industry. I’ve seen how much work you’ve put into it, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. You’ve also changed my life by giving me the opportunity to be your manager. I couldn’t live out my acting dream because your mother and I took you in, but watching you shine means the world to me. It feels as if my dreams have come true. I’m happy because of you, and I am proud of you.”
I stood there frozen in place, completely stunned by his words. “Uh, what?”
“I said I’m proud of you.”
“Yeah, I heard you… It’s just…” I scratched the back of my neck. “Uh, thanks.”
Well, crap.
He gave one head nod. “Just don’t falter. Now’s the time when you will be tempted to sway or lose your balance. Millions would kill to have your level of success, and it will only keep building, Aiden. Keep your eye on the prize. You’ve got this.”
He shifted the conversation, but my mind stayed on that speech well after dinner was finished. My father, my stone-cold, emotionless robot of a father, just told me he was proud of me.
I’m proud of you.
Seventeen years, and all I’d ever wanted to hear were those words from that man. That he was proud of me. That he believed in me. That what I was doing was worth it. That night he gave me those words, and I knew I’d have to keep working to advance my career in order to keep him proud. No part of me wanted to be an actor, but every part of me wanted to make my father proud.
The sound of knocking on my bedroom window was a sound I had missed. I moved over there to find Hailee standing there with her arms crossed tightly. I opened it, and she scrunched up her nose. “Fine,” she blurted out.
“Fine what?”
“Fine, I’ll go to the stupid party with the stupid people.”
I smirked, tossing my legs over the window ledge and taking a seat. “What changed your mind?”
“The ultimate high school list lacks completion, and who knows when you might be swept off to Los Angeles again before the year is over. Figured we might as well knock off the easiest tasks on the list.”
“I’m not going to argue with you because if I do, I know you’ll change your mind.”
“You’re right.” She sat on the other edge of my windowsill. Her leg brushed against mine, and I silently prayed she wouldn’t move it.
She cleared her throat. “But—”
“Of course, there’s a but.”
“Don’t sass me, Tom.”
“Lay it on me, Jerry. What are your terms?”
“I don’t want to stay at the party the whole time, but I don’t want to arrive early, either. I need you to go before me, scope it out, give me updates, and then when I show up, you meet me outside to take me inside the house.”