He must not believe me because he doesn’t react. He goes back to eating his meal and checking his phone.
I’m not a troublemaker, but I feel like I want to be. When I lived with my mom, I followed the rules because I didn’t want to upset her or make her life harder. Raising a kid on your own isn’t easy, so I tried to help her by staying out of trouble. But with Brock? I don’t care. I don’t owe him anything. He’s taking me in, but I know he doesn’t want to. He’s only doing it to boost his image.
Hollywood star takes in orphaned niece.That was the headline I saw on a website last week. They made Brock soundlike a saint. And what’s with the orphan title? I’m not an orphan. I have a dad.
“Fuck,” Brock mutters, swiping through his phone.
“What?”
“The audition I had on Friday was canceled. They already cast the role.” He sets his phone down hard on the table. “That role should’ve been mine, dammit.”
He stabs his fork in the salmon like he’s trying to kill it. Why is he so angry? So he didn’t get an audition? Big deal. I just lost my mom, and he doesn’t even seem to care.
My mom used to say actors were self-absorbed. That everything was all about them. I’m starting to see what she means. Brock is completely consumed with himself. Maybe that’s good. If he ignores me, I can do what I want.
“You never said how you started acting,” I say. “Did you do Broadway?”
“No. Never.” He shudders. “The stage was for my brother. I had no desire to do that.”
“Then how’d you get started?” I ask, picking at my salad to see if there’s anything in there I could eat.
“Miranda. The boys’ mother. Her father was head of the studio.”
“So you hooked up with her to get a job.” I nod. “Real romantic.”
“It wasn’t like that. When I met her, I didn’t know about her father. I was interning at the studio and saw her in the cafeteria. I asked her out and we started dating.”
“And then her dad gave you a part?”
“Yes, but it had nothing to do with my relationship with Miranda.”
“Didn’t you say this town is all about connections?”
“I wasn’t referring to my relationship with Miranda.”
I shrug. “I’m just saying, seems pretty convenient you just happen to ask out the daughter of the boss at the same time you’re desperate to break into the business.”
He glares at me. I don’t know why he’s angry. He just got done saying people here will do anything and everything to make it as an actor.
“I need to get going.” He gets out his wallet. “Harley will take you home.”
Brock only had a few bites of his salmon, and I gave up on my salad after nearly choking on it. What a waste of a lunch. We should’ve just skipped it.
“Here.” Brock tosses a fifty at me. “Stop and get something to eat on the way to the house. Tell Harley what you want. He’ll know where to go.”
“Thanks.” I stuff the fifty in my jeans.
Brock stands up. “Sorry I can’t stay but I’m late for my meeting.” He motions to the waitress. “Miss?”
She hurries over to him. “Yes, Mr. Halliway.”
“I need to leave.” He hands her a hundred. “This should cover the bill. Whatever’s left is yours.”
“Thank you!” she gushes. “Before you leave, could I just—”
“Sorry, but no.” He nods at me. “Goodbye, Rumor.”
As he leaves, I get out my phone and see a message from Axl.
