The Last Boyfriend (4 page)

“Hi.” I shook his hand, and
he leaned over to kiss me.

“Hi beautiful.”

I blushed at his words and
turned away, slightly uncomfortable. I saw another guy in the
corner of the room, giving me a sympathetic look, and he jumped
up.

“Lay off Evan.” He hit Evan
on the shoulder and held his hand out to me. “Hi, I’m
Braydon.”

“Hi, I’m Lucky.” I smiled,
grateful that I didn’t have to deal with Evan. Leeza had already
disappeared, and I was already feeling slightly annoyed.

“That’s an unusual name.”
Braydon laughed. “Would you like a drink?”

“I’m okay, thanks. I have
to drive home, so I’m not having anything else.”

“Well, that’s no fun.” He
grinned.

“Sorry, I guess I’m not a
fun person.” I grinned and made to turn around but he grabbed me by
the arm.

“Hey Lucky, want to have a
seat?”

“Yeah. Thanks.” I followed
him back to the corner, and we sat on a brown leather
couch.

“So tell me about your
name, Lucky.” He smiled a genuine boyish smile and I relaxed as I
looked into his brown eyes. He seemed like a nice guy, somewhat
familiar, but I knew that I had never met him before.

“My parents thought they
couldn’t conceive. They tried for years.” I smiled. “And then, they
had me. And they considered themselves the luckiest parents in the
world.”

“Wow, that must have been a
nice surprise.”

“Yeah. They were really
happy to have me.” I smiled wistfully. “They used to tell people
that they won the lottery. And then they would boast about how they
were the luckiest people in the world.”

“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.

“Yeah.” I nodded at
Braydon, without even bothering to ask him what he had just said,
and he laughed.

“You haven’t heard a word I
just said, have you?”

I shook my head, feeling
guilty, and he laughed even harder. “Lucky, you are a real
refreshment to me right now.”

“Uh thanks.” I smiled
quickly, not actually sure what he meant.

“I would love to take you
out some time.”

“Oh.” I blushed, unsure of
what to say in response. To avoid answering right away, I
decided to straighten out my dress.

“Braydon Eagle, you sly
dog.” The blonde ran up to the couch and sat on his lap. “I didn’t
know you were here.”

“Hi Angelique.” He smiled
and rolled his eyes.

“Why didn’t you call me
back? I wanted you to come pregame with us.”

“I’m here now.”

“Didn’t you miss me?” She
pouted and ran her finger across his cheek. I sat there
uncomfortably and started to get up.

“Angelique, you’re making
Lucky uncomfortable.” Braydon pushed her off of his lap, and she
looked at me with distaste.

“I’m okay.” I attempted a
smile, but Angelique flicked her hair and called to
Zane.

“Zane, Braydon’s being
rude.”

“I’m sure he is.” Zane
walked up to Angelique and put his arm around her.

“Yes, he was.” She pouted.
“Do something about it.”

“Don’t worry, I’m trying
to.” Zane mumbled under his breath and I stared up at him. He
frowned at me and I could sense that he was unhappy with me for
some reason. We continued to stare at each other and I saw Braydon
look back and forth at us.

“Do you two know each
other?” His tone sounded odd.

“Yes.” I said at the same
time Zane said, “No.”

My feelings were hurt that
he pretended not to know me and I looked away from him and stared
across the room.”

“Hello Braydon.” Zane’s
voice was brusque as he acknowledged Braydon.

“Zane.” Braydon nodded, and
I watched them both curiously as a silent message seemed to pass
between them.

“Zane. Let’s go in the hot
tub. Braydon, why don’t you join us.”

“I’m having a conversation,
Angelique.” Braydon spoke to Angelique, but he looked at
Zane.

“I’m sure she won’t mind.”
Her voice sounded sharp, and I felt Braydon’s hand grab a hold of
mine.

“Angelique, why don’t you
and Zane go.”

“Don’t want me to interrupt
your conversation with Lucky?” Zane’s voice was smooth with a
slight undertone.

“What do you care?” Braydon
frowned and gave him a challenging look.

“I don’t.” Zane’s voice was
sharp and seemed to send Braydon a message.

“We met at the restaurant I
work at.” I interjected into the conversation, trying to let
Braydon know I wasn’t one of Zane’s many girls.

“You work at a restaurant?”
Angelique looked at me disdainfully, and I could feel the dislike
emanating from her eyes. She obviously didn’t like the attention
being away from her.

“Come on, Angelique.” Zane
pulled her away before staring at me for a few seconds. I watched
as they walked across the room and exited, and I tried to exhale
the disappointment that resonated through my body.

“Sorry about Angelique, she
can be a bit of a bitch.” Braydon sidled up next to me and placed
his arm around me.

“That’s okay.” I smiled
briefly and tried to shift away from him slightly. “How do you know
Zane?” I asked him curiously.

“Zane?” Braydon looked at
me with a funny look in his eye. “I don’t honestly know him that
well. I was friends with his brother.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. But I met them both
through his dad.”

“His dad?”

“Yeah, his dad is Jeff
Beaumont, the head of Paragon Studios.”

“Oh wow.” I felt faint at
his words. So I had been right. Zane was a spoiled rich boy. Only
he was richer than I had even imagined. No wonder he dated so many
different women. He had the world at his feet.

“You didn’t know?” Braydon
shook his head in disbelief. “You really are
one-of-a-kind.”

“Thanks, I think.” I
laughed, and Braydon joined in.

“Can I take you to lunch
tomorrow, Lucky?”

“I, uh, don’t
know.”

“I promise not to bite.” He
held up some fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

“You were a scout?” I
looked at him in surprise.

“No, but I played one in a
movie when I was a kid.” He laughed, and I shook my head, feeling
drawn to his boyish charm.

“Well, I guess that’s close
enough.”

“So tomorrow?” He looked at
me earnestly. “I know you don’t know me from Adam, but really, I’m
a nice guy. I know most actors are portrayed as assholes and
players, but I’m not one of those guys.” He shook his head and
grinned. “I feel like an idiot for just saying that.”