Which was why I groaned and sank further into my seat when the action began, the characters began to talk, and I realized this was an awful B-movie script that should never have been made.
I reached for the nachos and my fingers clashed with Brody’s. Both of us murmured an apology at the same time. I glanced at him and we both grinned, the wavering light of the screen playing over his face and smoothing out every line.
“Go ahead,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to distract you.”
I rolled my eyes as I took a nacho. “You’re not,” I whispered back. It was lucky there was no one else sitting nearby – we wouldn’t disturb anyone by talking this quietly. “This script is awful.”
Brody’s face creased with suppressed laughter. “So, it’s not just me?”
“It’s not just you,” I confirmed and sighed. “We should have gone with Keaton.”
“Maybe theirs is just as bad,” Brody said, crunching a nacho.
“No,” I sighed again. “Keaton knows his stuff. A lot better than I do, honestly. That’s why he’s already winning awards and I’m still trying to sell a script.”
Brody shook his head. “You know how young you are, right?” he asked. “You literally just graduated college. Why are you being so hard on yourself about not already being at the top of your industry?”
I stared at him in the dark. The screen went black for a moment and then flared with light as a jump-scare made most of the rest of the audience gasp. His eyes were fixed on me through it all.
“I don’t know,” I admitted at last. “Keaton’s won awards. Aiden already has star football players signing up for his physiotherapy sessions. Aren’t you already running your own business?”
“Yeah, and I’ll probably fail miserably and have to start all over again in a few years,” Brody shrugged. “Just because I’ve started on the path of my career, doesn’t mean I’m already where I want to be. I’m very far from the top of my game. I have a lot of learning to do before I get there.”
We were missing the film entirely, but I didn’t mind at all. “I guess you’re right,” I said. “I… I just feel like everyone else is already hitting the ground running, and I’m sitting here waiting for a break.”
“Have you written a full script yet?” Brody asked. His eyes were serious.
“Of course,” I said. “Actually, I’ve written three. I’m still trying to get the first one accepted somewhere.”
“Well, then you’ve done a hell of a lot more than most people achieve,” he said.
I turned back to the screen, thinking this over. I pretended I was watching the movie, but it was just light and shadow in front of my eyes. I couldn’t focus on any of it.
Brody was right. I was being too hard on myself – expecting too much, too soon. Wasn’t there a well-known trope of budding actors and writers working in cafes for a reason? If I had to go and become a barista to pay the bills, that wouldn’t be shameful. Instead, I should be proud I’d already got this far by selling art and hadn’t needed to get a day job.
It was funny how every time I spent just a few minutes really talking to Brody, he managed to completely change one part of my outlook on life.
I reached for another nacho only to find the plastic tray empty. “Sorry,” Brody whispered with a cheeky smile that instantly sent heat down into the pit of my stomach. He grabbed the tray and put it on the other side of him, on the empty chair.
I watched his movements and not the screen, thinking about that smile. About the movement of his hands. About being in the back row together, in the dark, no one able to see us.
I didn’t allow myself to think. I had never been ‘naughty’ like this – not even when I was a teen. Wouldn’t it be nice to experience it, just once?
I reached over and placed my hand on the front of his jeans, wrapping my fingers around the bulge I found there. Brody’s body stiffened as he reacted silently, looking over at me with wide eyes. I said nothing. I kept his gaze – not quite smiling, not quite anything, just waiting to see what he would do.
Brody bit his lip in a way that made my legs feel weak, and Isqueezed.
He covered his mouth to stop a groan, giving me a look that suggested I was being wicked. I started to slowly massage his dick through the fabric, feeling it slowly come to life under my hand. My own wasn’t far behind. My pulse was racing at the thought of doing this in a public place, somewhere we could easily be seen if the lights went up. Or heard, if one of us ended up getting too loud.
I couldn’t help it – I wanted more. More risk, more reward, more everything.
More Brody.
I walked my hand up to the button at the top of his jeans and started to ease it open. I kept my eyes forward as I was watching the film, just in case anyone looked over. I waited for him to stop me.
He didn’t stop me.
I pushed his fly aside and dipped my hand into the waistband of his underwear, seeking flesh. The heat of him filling my hand made my breath catch in my throat – and I heard his do the same.
