"And you were, what, twelve or thirteen years old?"
"Yeah. Thankfully, I was too young and naïve to have any fear and just delusional enough to assume I'd be chosen."
"And you were."
"And I was."
"And that was forCode Crusaders, right?"
"Actually, it was forMind Reader, a short-lived show about a teenage psychic." I laugh. "I know it was a completelycorny show, but I learned so much about the business and acting. I had a fantastic director, and Disney accommodated an on-set school. I lived in a house with other teen actresses, and our mothers rotated staying with us, so it was like I had also inherited more family, too."
"That's amazing. Are you still close to everyone?"
"I'm closer with some fromCode Crusaderssince it was on the air longer." I shift nervously, not wanting to get too deep into specifics about that time in my life. "For others, it is sort of out of sight, out of mind. It's funny how it's such a small town but also a big place, too. There are a few I've never seen again."
"That's where you met Connor, right?" Grant says as he glances my way. The absolute last thing I want to talk about with him is how naïve I was to fall for Connor.
"Yes, he was my co-star in the last season, when my character was finally old enough to have a love interest."
"But you two dated in real life, too, right?"
"We did. It was short-lived, just while we were shooting."
"Well, I think that happens a lot. It must be easy to get caught up between the characters you play, the scenes you're in, and general proximity."
"Something like that."
I catch his head turning toward me from the corner of my eye as I try not to look at him.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to bring up any old feelings."
"Oh, no, you didn't. There's no old feelings. Unless still feeling foolish counts."
He's quiet but staring at the road with his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Oh, you know, the age-old story of PR team curates relationship."
He nods in understanding. "I've had a few of those. They can be handy."
"I'm sure they are if you know they are happening to you."
He whips his head back to me so fast that I worry he's going to drive off the road. "What do you mean?"
"His team set it up with mine, but it seems my team forgot to tell me about it, and I guess he thought I knew it was all for show. Instead, I thought every bit was real—right up until he shook my hand at the wrap party." I pull my knees up and tuck my head into my hands, embarrassed to be baring my soul like this.
"What the fuck?"
"Yeah, that and what happened with my first boyfriend has pretty much set the tone for my views on dating."
"What happened with your first boyfriend?"
"Oh, that's another classic. Woo her until she gives in. Once he took my v-card, I never heard from him again."
"Jesus, Sophia. That is not at all what relationships are really like."
"Oh, really? And you know this how?" I'm teasing him—everyone knows he doesn't date, and he owns it unapologetically.
"I know how to treat a fucking woman, and it's not like that, whether you're dating seriously or not."
