‘Yeah.’ His chuckle echoes into my ear. ‘Gruelling six am gym workout, followed by fifty lengths in the pool and a protein shake. Egg white omelette for lunch. Either steak or chicken with at least three different types of green veg for dinner.’ He sniggers again. ‘Tell me I’m wrong.’
I would if I could, but I can’t.
He has my life down to a T.
‘You only date blondes. Only drive German cars. You’re not exactly known for your spontaneity. There’s nothing wrong with that either,’ Jayden reassures me. ‘You do have a physique to maintain. Though that’s no excuse for limiting yourself to one type of woman.’ Another throaty laugh rumbles over the phone. ‘Look, this movie is probably too far out of your comfort zone. But I promised Ryan I’d ask.’
Ryan? What has this got to do with Jayden’s rock star brother? A slow beat passes while I attempt to process his comments. ‘What is it?’
‘It’s a Christmas romance.’
‘A romance?’ Jayden’s bang on. It’s utterly out of my comfort zone. ‘Do I look like George Clooney to you? Or Matthew McConaughey, for that matter?’
‘The male MC is a rock star. The film is based on my brother, Ryan, and his wife, Sasha.’ Jayden coughs. ‘Look, I know it’s not your thing and I’m probably wasting my breath, but Ryan begged me to ask you. He doesn’t want some golf-shirt wearing douche playing him. They’re offering twenty million and the script is actually really impressive.’
‘I’m not getting my junk out. I told you before, Jayden.’
Jayden sniggers. ‘Last time I checked, Hallmark was a family-friendly channel, though Ryan and Sasha’s romance is probably more suited to Passionflix. You need ear plugs if you’re even in the same hotel as them. They still can’t leave each other alone.’
God, what I wouldn’t do for a love like that. One that’s strong enough to survive time and distance and a tonne of mistakes.
Something real. Raw. Honest. But that brings risk as well as reward. I learnt the hard way. ‘Hallmark? Seriously?’
‘Twenty million. It’s seven weeks’ work tops. You know they churn these things out like butter.’ Jayden’s tone is nonchalant. Like he’s already kissed his commission goodbye.
It’s the perfect excuse to get out of town and to prove I’m not a one-trick pony. To do something unpredictable for once in my life.
And the money is top dollar. I could gift it to the American Addicts Support Society and not have to feel bad about the money they won’t be getting from that ridiculous Celebrity Couple of the Year award.
‘I’ll do it.’ I’ll show Celeste. And the rest of the goddamn world that Nate Jackson is more than just a walking, talking, tattooed action man.
‘What?’ Jayden exclaims. ‘You didn’t even ask where it’s set.’
‘I’ll go anywhere right now to escape the shitshow that’s about to blow up in my face.’
‘Great.’ A loud cracking sound echoes over the phone line. I imagine Jayden slapping his desk in triumph. Ten percent of twenty million for asking a question is easy money. ‘In that case, call your mother, tell her you’ll be home for Christmas. Hell, we might even get to catch up for a few beers ourselves. We’re heading to Huxley Castle for the holidays.’
Huxley Castle is the grandest castle in Dublin, home to Jayden’s brother, Ryan, and his family. The same one who wants me to take this role. I like Ryan. I want to help him out. But I haven’t been home in three years, using filming in Japan, Russia and most recently, South America, as my excuse.
The truth is, I’d rather eat kangaroo balls onI’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Herethan bump into Sally-Ann and her real-life hero husband, Niall, a fireman who actually runs into burning buildings to save people, instead of pretending to. The news they had a beautiful bouncing baby was another tough pill to swallow. Even for a former addict.
And if I go home, there’s no way in the world to avoid them. Sally-Ann is literally the girl next door. And now her parents have retired to Australia, their house is hers.
Don’t shit on your own doorstep springs to mind. Don’t shag on it might be more appropriate. And definitely don’t fall in love on it.
‘The last couple of weeks will be filmed in Vegas, but the first five weeks are being filmed on the west coast in a tiny seaside town called Ballybowen. There’s a location there called Newbridge Castle that apparently looks similar to Huxley Castle, where Ryan and Sasha’s famous love story began. The only time Newbridge could accommodate Max Carter’s intense filming schedule is next month, even though the movie won’t actually premier until next October.’
‘Max Carter?’ The guy might be one of Hollywood’s top producers, but he’s the biggest womaniser around.
‘Yep. Don’t worry, you’re not his type,’ Jayden sniggers. ‘I’ll send you over the script. Pack a bag. You leave tomorrow.’
Alarm sneaks into my gut. ‘Tomorrow?’ That leaves zero time to prepare.
‘Yeah, they originally had Tom Hardy signed up but a family emergency put a stop to that,’ Jayden relays. ‘To be fair, his accent probably would have been crap. His voice screams “London gangster” rather than “Brooding Irishman.”’
Am I seriously considering starring in a fucking romance?
A Hallmark one, no less?
