decide on the script?" she asks. She's in a red skirt, a white blouse knotted at her waist, and strappy sandals that she steps out of when we touch the sand. She has on big, black Jackie O sunglasses and those ruby red lips. On every occasion, she looks so fucking chic. I wonder sometimes how a girl like her ever came from a town like Tolling.
"I've been putting it off." I shrug as we walk toward the rolling surf. "I don't have another Johnny Jumper movie for twelve months, so I only have a few more weeks to decide. Time's running out."
"It's awesome you have so many choices, though. For me, with teaching, there are so few drama teacher jobs available. I think I might just end up subbing in Tolling next year, because I don't want to move to some random city for a teaching job."
"Would you ever consider moving somewhere for the dream job?"
"Honestly," she says, letting the water hit her feet, "I would feel bad leaving my parents."
"They know you're with me today?"
She scrunches up her nose. "Not exactly."
"Bexley," I moan. "Girl."
"I know. I just, I'm not ready."
"That's cool. I just know family is important to you ... and whatever happens with us, I want them to be on our side."
"You think your family is cool with whatever happens with us ?"
"I think so. I mean, I spoke with Cat this morning. She knew you were coming out."
"You talk to your sister often?"
"Not as often as I should, but yeah. She's gonna move in this summer, actually. And my Mom's moving to LA, too."
"Wow."
"You sound surprised."
"I am." She takes my hand, laces her fingers through mine. "That's sexy. You being, like, a family guy. I wouldn't have guessed that."
"I'm full of surprises, Bexley," I tell her, pulling her to me, kissing her deeper, longer.
Looking into my eyes, she nods. "I'm learning that about you, Holden."
"Good." I smack her ass. "Now come back to my house, I have someone I want you to meet."
* * *
A n hour later we're on the patio, drinks in hand, and Bexley and I sit on a love seat across from my agent Trenton.
"So," I tell Bexley. "Trenton signed me four years ago, when I was a nobody, but he saw something in me.
"That's great," Bexley says, smiling as she sets down her glass of chardonnay. "It's really good to meet you."
"You too." Trenton eyes her appraisingly. I know he must see what I see. Bex would be perfect for the love interest in Johnny Jumper 4, and I know it hasn't been cast yet. "So, Holden tells me you used to do a lot of acting?"
She laughs. "Well, when we were teenagers. But Holden was the real star, obviously."
I cut in, "That's not true. Bex, tell him how you were the star of every fall production starting freshman year. Which was unprecedented."
"Okay." Bexley swats at my words. "In high school I was a shining star," she says dramatically. "And now I'm a teacher. What's the saying? ‘Those who can't, teach’?"
Trenton laughs nervously, looking confused. "Do you have any interest in acting again?"
"Uh, not really. I mean, I think I made my choice."
"That's cool," Trenton says, leaning back with his beer in hand. "My mom was a teacher. Valid career." He smiles at her kindly. We keep up the small talk for another half hour, before Trenton excuses himself, shaking Bexley's hand good-bye.
I walk him out. Standing next to his car, I ask, "So, what did you think?"
"I think she's gorgeous, articulate, charming, and has zero interest in being a movie star."
"That's not true. She's amazing on stage. She just doesn't know she wants it yet. She's scared."
"Holden. I love you, man, and I've done plenty for you in the past, but no way am I signing her as client, going to the biggest movie producer in LA, and asking for him to audition a no-name who doesn't want the job."
"Then I'll go talk to the producer. He's worked with me enough; he owes me this."
"No one owes anyone a thing in this town, Holden. Everyone's fending for themselves."
"Let me talk to her one more time before you say no."
"Sure,"
"I've been putting it off." I shrug as we walk toward the rolling surf. "I don't have another Johnny Jumper movie for twelve months, so I only have a few more weeks to decide. Time's running out."
"It's awesome you have so many choices, though. For me, with teaching, there are so few drama teacher jobs available. I think I might just end up subbing in Tolling next year, because I don't want to move to some random city for a teaching job."
"Would you ever consider moving somewhere for the dream job?"
"Honestly," she says, letting the water hit her feet, "I would feel bad leaving my parents."
"They know you're with me today?"
She scrunches up her nose. "Not exactly."
"Bexley," I moan. "Girl."
"I know. I just, I'm not ready."
"That's cool. I just know family is important to you ... and whatever happens with us, I want them to be on our side."
"You think your family is cool with whatever happens with us ?"
"I think so. I mean, I spoke with Cat this morning. She knew you were coming out."
"You talk to your sister often?"
"Not as often as I should, but yeah. She's gonna move in this summer, actually. And my Mom's moving to LA, too."
"Wow."
"You sound surprised."
"I am." She takes my hand, laces her fingers through mine. "That's sexy. You being, like, a family guy. I wouldn't have guessed that."
"I'm full of surprises, Bexley," I tell her, pulling her to me, kissing her deeper, longer.
Looking into my eyes, she nods. "I'm learning that about you, Holden."
"Good." I smack her ass. "Now come back to my house, I have someone I want you to meet."
* * *
A n hour later we're on the patio, drinks in hand, and Bexley and I sit on a love seat across from my agent Trenton.
"So," I tell Bexley. "Trenton signed me four years ago, when I was a nobody, but he saw something in me.
"That's great," Bexley says, smiling as she sets down her glass of chardonnay. "It's really good to meet you."
"You too." Trenton eyes her appraisingly. I know he must see what I see. Bex would be perfect for the love interest in Johnny Jumper 4, and I know it hasn't been cast yet. "So, Holden tells me you used to do a lot of acting?"
She laughs. "Well, when we were teenagers. But Holden was the real star, obviously."
I cut in, "That's not true. Bex, tell him how you were the star of every fall production starting freshman year. Which was unprecedented."
"Okay." Bexley swats at my words. "In high school I was a shining star," she says dramatically. "And now I'm a teacher. What's the saying? ‘Those who can't, teach’?"
Trenton laughs nervously, looking confused. "Do you have any interest in acting again?"
"Uh, not really. I mean, I think I made my choice."
"That's cool," Trenton says, leaning back with his beer in hand. "My mom was a teacher. Valid career." He smiles at her kindly. We keep up the small talk for another half hour, before Trenton excuses himself, shaking Bexley's hand good-bye.
I walk him out. Standing next to his car, I ask, "So, what did you think?"
"I think she's gorgeous, articulate, charming, and has zero interest in being a movie star."
"That's not true. She's amazing on stage. She just doesn't know she wants it yet. She's scared."
"Holden. I love you, man, and I've done plenty for you in the past, but no way am I signing her as client, going to the biggest movie producer in LA, and asking for him to audition a no-name who doesn't want the job."
"Then I'll go talk to the producer. He's worked with me enough; he owes me this."
"No one owes anyone a thing in this town, Holden. Everyone's fending for themselves."
"Let me talk to her one more time before you say no."
"Sure,"
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