Tanner got off the couch. “Nope, let's get dressed and head out now. I'm craving stuffed cream cheese French toast.” He licked his lips and waggled his eyebrows, making Star chuckle. “Oh, and later, we're meeting with my bears for dinner.”
“Why do you call them bears? They’re big guys, but I didn't know you were into a kinky lifestyle.”
“It has nothing to do with being kinky, but I love it when they devour me in bed.” He shivered as his face flushed red.
“I'm glad you found your happy ending, but too much information, bro.” He smiled, even though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Had the world changed that much? He couldn’t explain it, and even though it had only been a couple of hours since he returned to the living, something felt extremely off. The good thing was they were indoors discussing Tanner’s sex life, so there was no way anyone could get arrested for their sexuality.
Shaking his head, Star got off the sofa and stood beside his friend, gently poking him in one of his cheeks. “I might be happy for you, but I don't need to know about you and your guys in bed. It will only make me more jealous.” He fake grumbled. Star was happy for Tanner and hoped that one day he would find someone who would love him and not try to use him.
Tanner wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Give it time. You'll find your mate. You might bump into him today.”
Why is he using the word mate, too? And why does he want me to get married so quickly? Star snorted and shook his head. “I’m not ready for that kind of commitment, beside that I'm not that lucky.”
Tanner's brows creased together. “Seriously, dude, what happened to you in California to have you thinking so negatively? I know you've never been the most optimistic person in the world, but you were not like this before. You used to tell me to have a second plan if the first one didn't work. But you don't sound like yourself. It's like you're a completely different person.”
“Tanner, we haven't seen each other in a long time. So, of course, we've both changed. And when did anything good happen in my life? First, my parents died when I was young, leaving me with nothing. Then I went to live with a family who could give two shits whether I lived or died. Not to mention...” He stopped when he realized he was about to tell Tanner about the shit that had happened in his past life. He was sure that his friend wouldn't understand or believe him.
“What were you about to say?” Tanner said.
“It's nothing,” he responded, shaking his head and stepping away from his friend. “Look, I don't mean to be a downer, but nothing in my life has been great since my father died. So I feel like there's a curse on me, you know? And no matter how many science fiction books I read or any other paranormal shit, I still don't believe in magic or the damn gods. Because if they exist, why the fuck would they make me go through all that shit?”
“Don't say stuff like that,” Tanner pleaded. He grabbed Star's arm. “I know you don't want to talk about it now, but I can tell you went through something recently, and I'm not talking about the stalker ex. But when you're ready to talk, I'll listen, and I promise, no judgment. Living in Valleywood has made me have an open mind, especially about the supernatural stuff you don't believe in.”
“What do you know?” he snapped, looking away from Tanner, feeling lost and angry at his situation. But no matter how he felt, he couldn't take it out on his friend. He went to apologize, but Tanner spoke.
“I don't know a damn thing you're going through,” he said with a wary sigh. “It's fucked up that we lost touch, but I know to listen to the universe when it gives me signs. You might think I'm crazy, but believe me when I tell you Valleywood is magical.”
Star stared at his friend, chewing on his bottom lip as he contemplated telling him everything.Magic, what the hell is Tanner thinking? Next, he's going to tell me that gods exist.
At one point, Star believed in God or the many gods, until he realized they were nothing but myths. He even had a favorite supernatural being, Anubis, the god of mummification. Growing up, he dreamed up stories of Anubis saving him from his life of despair, making him one of his servants. However, after everything that happened in his life, he threw the thought out of his mind. Because no one came to save him, only death. And even with a second chance at life, Star still wasn’t sure if they were real or not.
Maybe I’m in the afterlife, and all my friends are dead, and we’re just living like nothing happened?Star shook his head.That makes no fucking sense.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?” Tanner asked.
“I did something yesterday, and now I’m questioning if I made the right decision,” Star lied easily.
“What did you do?”
“I walked away from signing a modeling contract with Equi-Noxx Entertainment.”
Tanner's eyes widened. “Are you for real?”
Star nodded.
“Why didn't you sign with them? Their agency is widely known, and I know they have some of the best agents. Some of the biggest stars in Hollywood are with Equi-Noxx. My boss is trying to woo a few of them to Valleywood.” Then his eyes grew even wider. “Was it because of my call?”
Star chuckled and shook his head. “You had nothing to do with it. I couldn't sign with them because it didn't feel right. Being a model isn't my dream, but it's a way into the industry.” Then, thinking of his past with the company and Thornton, he told Tanner, “They just weren't the one for me.”
“I get it. So maybe, and this is a big maybe, you'll find what you need here. Abandon has the best perks.”
“Abandon?” Star looked at Tanner confusedly.
“It's one of the talent and entertainment agencies here. My boss owns it,” Tanner answered proudly.
“I thought he owned the studio?”
