The Last Boyfriend (10 page)

“I’m sorry Lucky. I’m a bit
over-the-top about cars. I guess it’s a guy thing.”

“That’s okay.” I smiled,
genuinely this time. “I’m just not one to know much about cars.” I
laughed slightly at my comment. “Well, other cars, at least. I know
a bit about mine.”

“Oh, what do you drive?” He
looked at me curiously.

“A Toyota Corolla. 1991.” I
laughed at his pleasantly, bored expression. “And right now, it’s
in the shop, inoperable, so I’m not really driving
anything.”

“Oh, that sucks.” He pulled
out into the street. “Well, let’s go get some dinner. I figured I
would take you to the Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne. That way we
can look out on the water.”

“That sounds great.” I
smiled and looked out the window, feeling a little tense. Why
hadn’t he asked me about my car? Or how I had gotten home last
night. It seemed like he didn’t even care. Not like Zane did. I
frowned as Zane popped into my head. There was no point in my
comparing Braydon to Zane because I knew that Zane didn’t want a
relationship and so there was no point in my thinking about him in
that way. I had to ignore the feelings that his kiss had ignited in
me, feelings that had been there from the first time I saw him. If
I was honest with myself, I had been attracted to Zane from the
first moment that I saw him, but I also knew that he was the sort
of guy that I should avoid. Nothing positive was going to come from
a relationship with Zane. If I could even call it a relationship,
since the most he would want would be friends with benefits. That,
I was sure of. And I didn’t want that. It didn’t fit in with my
Last Boyfriend Plan at all.

“Earth to Lucky.” Braydon’s
voice interrupted my daydreams and I turned to him with an
apologetic glance.

“Sorry, I was just
thinking.”

“Why, isn’t that a novel
thing to do?” He laughed. “Most girls I know in Hollywood chatter
inanely about their makeup and clothes.”

“But I’m sure you still
want to date them.” I laughed.

“Well you know.” He grinned
at me. “That was the old me. The new me is ready for a girl of
substance.”

“Oh yeah?” I studied his
boyish face and smiled at him warmly. “You know I feel really weird
driving in a car with
the
Braydon Eagle.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“It’s not every day that an
every day girl like me goes to dinner with a Hollywood movie star
like you.”

“Well then, we should get
some champagne at dinner to celebrate an extra ordinary
day.”

“This is an extra ordinary
day.” I nodded in agreement, thinking more about the agreement with
Zane than her date with Braydon.

“I like your honesty,
Lucky.” Braydon laughed. “I’m not sure I’ve ever met a girl like
you before.”

“I’m not sure I’m this
exotic breed that everyone keeps saying I am.” I laughed
self-consciously.

“You are all that and
more.” Braydon pointed to a high-rise as we drove. “I live over
there.”

“Oh yeah?” I peered at the
window, but didn’t see anything other than a bunch of tall
buildings.

“You ever come to
Brickell?”

“Not really.”

“It’s boring.” He laughed.
“I’d much rather live on the beach.”

“So you can party all day
and night?”

“Something like that.
Though my manager wouldn’t like it if I did.”

“Probably not.” I
agreed.

“So Lucky. Tell me the name
of your favorite movie.”

“Of all time?”

“Of all time! Oh and it
can’t be one of mine.” He laughed. “Just in case you felt obligated
to name one of mine.”

“Well you know …,” I
giggled. “I think my favorite movie is
My
Fair Lady
.”

“Oh.” He paused. “The rain
in Spain—”

“—
is mainly on the plain.”
I finished for him. “I love Audrey Hepburn. She was such a classic
actress.”

“Yes. She was. It’s funny
that you chose My Fair Lady because her co-star, Rex Harrison, is
my favorite actor.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yes, I love Alfred
Hitchcock movies and I thought he was superb in
Midnight Lace
.”

“Oh I’ve never heard of
that movie.”

“It’s not Hitchcock’s most
famous piece of work, but I loved it. Doris Day is in it as
well.”

“I’m not sure who Doris Day
is, I’m afraid.” I looked at him apologetically.

“You don’t know Doris Day?”
His voice was aghast. “Maybe we should skip the restaurant and just
go and watch movies.” He laughed.

“That could be a plan.” I
smiled.

“Doris Day was probably the
greatest actress of her time. She starred in tons of movies with
Cary Grant and Rock Hudson.”

“Ooh okay.” I still had no
clue who she was.

“Okay, she sang that song
about whatever will be will be, you know the one, Que sera,
sera.”

“Oh, yes. I love her.” My
voice was loud with excitement. “I had forgotten her name. My mom
used to watch her movies all the time.”

“Okay, phew.” He laughed.
“So you like
My Fair Lady
then, huh?”

I nodded, my head filled
with happy memories. “I don’t know why, but I always watch it when
I’m down. It’s my go-to movie.”

“I see.” He stopped the car
and I looked at him in surprise. “We’re here.”

“Oh wow, that was fast.” I
looked out the window and saw the Yacht Club. “I’ve never been here
before.”

“It’s a pretty cool place.
I’m not sure why they call it the Rusty Pelican though, there’s
nothing rusty about it. We’ll get a table outside and stare out
onto the water.”

“And the bright lights.” I
grinned.

“Well of course, if there
were no bright lights, we’d be sitting there scared that a gator
might come out of the water and attack us.”

“I certainly don’t want to
be attacked by an alligator.”

“Me either. Have you seen
my face?” Braydon grinned and I laughed.

“I sure hope you’re
hungry.” He continued, happy I was laughing at his
jokes.

“Oh I am.” I nodded my
head. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Zane had dropped me off after
we had eaten and he had been slightly peeved that I hadn’t told him
whom my date was with. I was annoyed, but upset when I got to my
room because Zane had been so dismissive when I had gotten out of
the car. I didn’t understand him. His moods seemed to go back and
forth so quickly. I sighed. I was meant to call him when I got home
so he could tell me what time he would picking me up to leave the
next day. Everything was going so quickly that I barely had time to
think about everything. I was starting to feel overwhelmed and had
spent the afternoon in my bed watching TV instead of
packing.

“Lucky, are you home?” Once
again, Braydon interrupted my thoughts of Zane.

“Sorry. I have a lot on my
mind.”

“I can see that. I hope
it’s not another guy.”

“Oh no, of course not.” I
blushed and turned away.

“I like your dress by the
way.” Braydon looked me over and smiled. “It’s very
chic.”

“Uhm, thanks.” I smiled
gratefully and tried to hold in a laugh. I had gotten the dress
from Target for $24.99 and I was pretty sure that Braydon was the
only one who had used that adjective to describe the
dress.

“Let’s go eat.” He grabbed
my hand and I followed him through the restaurant and then through
a door.

“Wow.” I stepped out of the
door and saw the candlelit tables overlooking the great expanse of
water that was lit up by the huge condos on the other side. “This
is magnificent.”

“I had to make our first
date special.” Braydon smiled and we sat down. “And let me
recommend the Strawberry Mule to drink, it is
delicious.”

“Done.” I grinned. “Alcohol
and strawberries sound good to me.”

“I love a girl that is easy
to please.”

“Well, that’s me.” I
laughed.

“On our next date, I’m
going to take you on my boat.”

“Oh.” I bit my lip and
leaned forward. “About that …”

“Oh no, did I do something
wrong already?” He sighed and slapped his forehead.

“No, no, no. Not at all.” I
was quick to reassure him. I was actually enjoying my time with
Braydon. More than I thought I would. “I’m having a good time, but
I’m actually leaving Miami tomorrow.”

“Wait what?’ He frowned.
“For good? Aren’t you in school?”

“I am in school.” I smiled,
slightly embarrassed. “I’m going to withdraw from my classes and
I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone.”

“Sorry. I’m really confused
here.”

“I got a job. It’s related
to my major, so I thought it would help me in my career, you
know.”

“Are you going to be
teaching history to kids in Africa or something?”

“No.” I laughed. “I’m going
to be helping with a documentary that will be focusing on the era
that I focus on in my studies.”

“Oh wow. A documentary?” He
looked intrigued and then the expression on his face changed and he
looked somewhat angry. “Please do not tell me that Zane Beaumont is
in any way involved with this documentary.”

I bit my lip and stared at
Braydon’s handsome face across the table. I didn’t know what to
say.

“He is isn’t he? That
asshole.”

“He’s not an asshole.” I
spoke quietly, defending a man I wasn’t sure actually deserved to
be defended.

“He did this because of me
you know.” Braydon hissed. “He must have heard me telling Evan how
nice I thought you were and how I was interested in
you.”

“I’m sure he didn’t hire me
because of that.” I frowned.

“Trust me.” Braydon
frowned. “I didn’t even know he was making a
documentary.”

“Well he is.” I looked down
at the menu, uncomfortable with where the conversation was
going.

“He needs to just get over
this bullshit.” Braydon swore and I saw his fists
clenching.

“What bullshit?” I asked
curiously.

“With Noah.” He frowned and
looked out at the bay. “He needs to fucking move on.”

I sat back and wished that
I were still at home. Braydon’s mood had changed and I was no
longer comfortable in his presence. “What does Noah do?” I asked,
hoping to finally get some information about Zane’s
brother.

Braydon looked back at me
with clouded eyes, and attempted a smile. “Let’s not talk about the
Beaumonts right now.”

“Okay.” I tried to hide my
disappointment. What was the big secret about Noah?

“So where in LA will you
be?”

“I’m not sure.” I
shrugged.

“Can I come out and see
you?”

“Come out
where?”

“To LA, silly.”

“Oh. Sure. Though, I’m not
really sure how busy I’ll be.”

“Can I ask you something,
Lucky?” Braydon’s voice was serious and I nodded slowly, wondering
what he wanted to ask me. “Do you like me?”

“I think you seem like a
nice guy, yes.” I answered, truthfully.

“Could you see yourself
dating me?”

“I don’t know.” I frowned.
“I don’t really know you well enough to answer that.”

“Would you give me the
opportunity to get to know you better?” Braydon looked bashful.
“I’m not sure that I’ve ever met a girl that Zane and I both seem
to like.”

“Sorry, what?” Why had he
brought up Zane’s name?

“It’s obvious to me that
Zane wants to get into your pants. I don’t know if he was
interested in you before he saw us together, but I am pretty sure
he wants you now. I don’t—”

“Stop.” I held my hand up.
“I like you, Braydon. You seem like a nice guy. Please don’t bring
Zane into this. I would like to get to know you better. If you’re
in Los Angeles, give me a call and we can talk.”

“I don’t want you to get
hurt, Lucky. Zane’s not a nice guy,” Braydon said
earnestly.

“And you are?” I laughed,
not quite believing that both guys had warned me off of each
other.

“I am actually.” He sat
back. “I have a good family. My parents are still together. I’m
looking for love. Real love. Not Hollywood love.”

“I see.”

“I’m sure plenty of guys
say that though, right?”

“Some do.”

“I don’t expect you to
trust me just because. I would like to prove myself to
you.”

“You don’t even know me.” I
looked at him incredulously. “I’m no one. You don’t have to prove
anything to me.”

“I’m going to sound crazy
right now, but have you ever just met someone and knew?”

“Knew what?”