“No. No, it really doesn’t,” I say, turning to look up at him and feeling suddenly shy. “I feel the same way about my mum,” I admit. “She’s terrifying. And she’snota world-famous actor. I can’t even imagine the pressure I’d get from her if she was. It’s bad enough as it is.”
“Yeah?”
The dark glasses he’s wearing are hiding his eyes, but I can tell Jett’s interest is genuine.
“Yeah.”
“Well, then, you know how it feels to never be good enough for someone, then,” he says matter-of-factly. “I feel like I’ve been trying to live up to my dad my entire life. Still haven’t managed it, though. Starting to think I never will.”
“That’s why you’re doing this, isn’t it?” I say, the realization making me stop in my tracks. “This fake dating thing, I mean? It’s not because of Justin Duval, orMacbeth, or even your reputation, is it? It’s about your dad.”
I’m so engrossed in the conversation we’ve been having that I’ve completely forgotten about the hidden paparazzi with their telephoto lenses. As far as I’m concerned, it’s just me and Jett, alone on this beach. And, as it turns out, we seem to have a lot more in common than either of us realized.
“My dad playedMacbethwhen he was my age,” Jett says at last. “On stage, not on screen, but still. Won a Tony for it. Hasn’t stopped talking about it ever since.”
He hesitates for just a moment, and when he starts speaking again, there’s a desperation in his voice that I’ve never heard before.
“If I could just get this role, Alexandra,” he says, turning to face me. We’ve walked far enough now that the house we started from is far behind us, Asher and Grace just tiny specs in the distance.
“If I could just get this role,” Jett repeats, raking a hand through his hair. “If I could just persuade Duval to give me a shot at it, it would make all the difference. Because I know I can do it. I know I can. I’d be good at it, too. I just need a chance.”
He pulls off his sunglasses to rub his eyes wearily, and when he looks back up, those green-gold eyes of his hit me like a punch to the gut.
He’s so beautiful.
And so very, very sad.
“I’m sure you would,” I agree, nodding slowly. “I’m sure you’d be great. And I’m sure you’ll get the part. I’m certain of it, in fact.”
Jett smiles uncertainly.
“Thanks,” he says, shrugging. “It’s good to know someone’s on my side.”
“I am on your side,” I assure him, taking a tentative step closer through the shallow water we’re standing in. “And Jett?”
He looks down at me, his eyes questioning. Even this close, his face is disconcertingly familiar, and almost disturbingly handsome.
“You’re good enough,” I tell him, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment at the very un-Lexie-like utterance that’s just fallen from my lips. “You’re definitely good enough.”
And then I kiss him.
Chapter 18
I’m not sure who’s more surprised: me or him.
I was so insistent I wasn’t going to do it. I made such a performance out of my refusal to play along that I even managed to convince myself.
And the Academy Award goes to Lexie Steele, for her groundbreaking performance in ‘Not Wanting to Kiss Jett Carter.’
But, of course, the truth is, Ididwant to kiss him. Not just because he’s gorgeous, and was my first-ever celebrity crush, but because when he opened up to me about his relationship with his dad, I related so hard that before I knew quite what had happened, helping him get that role became the most important thing in my life.
Or at this particular moment of my life, anyway.
I think I might have my conscience to blame for that.Again.
I was aiming for a quick peck, really. Just a swift, chaste brush of the lips, that the tabloids would go wild for, but which wouldn’t make things too awkward for us once it was over.
That’s not what I get, though.
