“I’m sure it had nothing to do with getting naked,” I said skeptically.
Lux ignored me.
“So, how are you doing?” she asked, serving up her first ‘hard-hitting’ question.
“I’m special,” I said.
“Looks like someone rides the short bus,” she quipped.
“Wow, you’re one of those mean girls,” I said as my face lit up. “How are you?”
“I’m awesome. You can’t spell ‘awesome’ without ‘me.’”
This was either going to be the weirdest interview I’d ever done or the best. Lux at least didn’t take herself seriously and didn’t try to get me to say stuff Frank warned me to never divulge.
“I understand you’ve done several interviews today. What types of questions have they asked you?” Lux asked.
I groaned in response.
“What’s wrong?” Lux asked.
“They’re all so boring. Reporters ask the same questions over and over again,” I complained.
“Like what?”
“I see you’re fishing for questions,” I said with a smirk. I started going through the list as though I was being asked the question, mimicking the reporters from earlier today. Then I would put on a serious face and answer.
“‘
“‘
I did four of those, where I praised everyone else in the movie like Frank had taught me, before Lux stopped my monologue.
“You forgot to thank God.”
“He is in everything I do,” I fired back automatically.
Football and baseball had once again proven invaluable when it came to having clichés handy when needed. Next, I might pull out the old standby: ‘We make movies one at a time,’ which equated to ‘We play them one at a time’ in sports.
“What should they have asked you if they wanted an honest answer?” she asked.
“I see how this works. You get me to spill the dirt without you even trying.”
“How’s it working so far?” Lux asked.
“Let’s see,” I said as I pondered my answer. “You could ask about Cuba … which was a trip of a lifetime. We could talk about Laurent Vance, the director. He
“The thing is, he knows it. We’ve been a couple since we were fifteen. I’ve never wanted anyone else, and it’s wonderful to be loved for being you and not for what you can do for someone,” Lux explained.
“Why hasn’t he locked you down and asked you to marry him?” I asked to cause trouble.
“He has. We’re getting married next weekend.”
“Look at that. We did break some news,” I said.
At that, Frank deflated a little. Believe me, I understood how it felt when your crush announced they were marrying someone else. I still couldn’t believe that Hannah Minacci had run off with that baseball dork.
We wrapped it up, and when she announced that she’d turned the camera off, I jumped up and ripped off the penis pouch. The damned thing itched. No sane man would wear that on purpose.
Lexi suddenly appeared in front of me with my boxers, which I quickly put on.
“How was it?” I asked.
“I almost burst out laughing when you were spot on with the voices and mannerisms of the reporters who asked you the stupid questions. If I didn’t know better, I would say you might be an okay actor someday.”
“Did Frank seem happy?” I asked.
“Oh, yeah. I think Frank plans to skip tomorrow and work with one of his other clients. You have the BS down for doing interviews,” Lexi said. “Plus, you come across as likable on camera.”
“As opposed to off-camera?”
“Hey, I’ve seen you at three in the morning, after being on set for 18 hours, and a janitor stops you. You treated him the same way you would any fan. I suspect you’re always likable,” Lexi assured me.
“Can we get out of here? I’m starved,” I suddenly realized.
“Why don’t you come back to my place, and I’ll fix you dinner? I can take you home later,” she suggested.
I wasn’t sure Lexi knew how to cook, or it would have been an easy decision. Especially with her new toy.
“Do we need to stop and pick something up?” I tentatively asked.
“Shut up, ‘stupid boy.’ Trust me to feed you and not kill you in the process.”
“Okay, I’m in.”
◊◊◊
Turns out, Lexi had called my mom and asked her to find the most straightforward meal she might make that I would love. Lexi made me grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. She got extra points by serving the soup in a coffee mug. While she cooked and then ate, we caught up. Lexi was splitting her time between my old management team and working for Frank at the PR firm.
Warning bells rang when she announced that Kent had given Lexi her first management client: none other than Chloe Larkin, my very own stalker.
“Did she share with you that she broke into my hotel room on Valentine’s day? And when I wouldn’t see reason, she slept with two of my best friends?” I asked.
“What!?”
“You remember her breaking into my bedroom and having to be committed, right?” I asked.
