“Not as great as getting signed.”
Xander tapped the table, instantly snapping me out of my temporary funk. “Remember, these last two open calls were rehearsals. The next one is too.”
“Rehearsals?”
“For McKay’s Models. That’s who you want to get signed by. That’s who’s going to sign you.”
“Xander—”
“Think positively.”
“I don’t think positivity will get me a modelling contract.”
“Why not? It got me where I am today.”
“Fit, sexy, and making millions working out while naked on True Fans?”
Xander snorted. “I’m not sure about millions, but I’m doing okay for myself.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Okay? You have a loft apartment opposite the O2 Arena.”
“You can’t get over that, can you?”
“No! I’m convinced I’ll wake up and everything that’s happened since I stepped off the train will have been a dream.”
Xander held my hand across the table. “It’s not a dream.” He leant over and whispered dramatically. “I do live opposite the O2 Arena.”
I smothered a laugh with my free hand.
“And you are my boyfriend,” he added, even more dramatically. Then he pulled his hand away and pinched himself.
“What are you doing?”
“Checking that I’m not the one who’s dreaming.”
“You’re not.”
He grinned. “Is Operation Cheer My Adorable Boyfriend Up succeeding?”
“Yes. I think your mission has been successful.” I smiled. “Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
We were politely interrupted by the server, who took our order.
Xander narrowed his eyes playfully. “Do you know what else I remember about you?”
“No. What?”
“When you and Dillon were thirteen, you put on a fashion show in our living room. Dillon wore some of Dad’s clothes, and you wore some of Mum’s.”
My face became as hot as a furnace, and I covered it with my hands. “That’s such an embarrassing memory.”
“Why? You’d made a catwalk out of a roll of lining paper. One of you, or maybe both, had drawn pretend lights on it and coloured them in with a black crayon. You strutted your stuff to a Gloria Gaynor song.”
“‘I Will Survive’,” I muttered from behind my hands. “We thought everyone was out, but you walked in on us and started applauding.” I lowered my hands.
“I’m pretty sure I threw a few wolf whistles in too.”
