“That's just one of his businesses.” Tanner raised his hand and started ticking off a few businesses with Azazel King's name on them.
“He's also the deputy mayor?” Tanner shook his head. “Is there anything he can't do? What, is he a superhero?”
Tanner cracked up laughing at that. “I try not to think about how he handles everything; I just do my own job. But don't change the subject; if you can stay here, I'm sure Abandon would be perfect for you.”
“I haven't even been here for a full day, and you're trying to get me to move here.” He smiled.
“Damn right I am,” Tanner said unashamedly. “I wish I'd convinced you to come here with me after graduation, but I know you had your dreams.”
“I haven't given up on them. They've just been delayed.”
“Good. Now let's get dressed. I'm hungry, and I really want to show you all of my favorite spots.”
“Are we going to get to everything?”
“Nope, I've been living here for a while and still haven't ventured into all the boroughs. But that only means one thing.” He grinned madly.
“What's that?”
“You'll have to stay longer so we can tour them together,” he finished happily.
Star sighed.Here we go again.“I can't just pack up and move, Tanner. I don't have a place to stay, nor know if I'll get that part. But hearing from you made me feel good, so I came here.” Now that he had time to think, Star realized that he only jumped at Tanner's offer because he was desperately trying to run from his past, and his friend offered open arms without realizing it. But he still needed to figure out what he was going to do.
“You can stay here. You can take over the remainder of the lease since things have changed since I mated with Rheinhold and Shepard. Usually, I sleep at their place.”
“Okay, that takes care of my living arrangements, but I still don't have a job.” Tanner looked disappointed at his words. “I'll think about moving permanently. I won't make any promises. But if this town can pull me in the way it did you, even if I don't get the part, I'll consider staying.”
Tanner's face brightened, bringing a smile to Star's face. “It sounds perfect.”
“Now, go get dressed. I'm starving as well.”
Tanner went to walk away but stopped and faced Star. “Do me a favor.”
“I'll help you hide the body, but I won't kill anyone,” he said jokingly.
“It's nothing that detrimental.”
“Okay, then what is it?”
“Try to think more positively, okay?”
Star nodded.
And his answer seemed to satisfy his friend. “Good.”
Tanner left the room, and Star cleaned up his bedding, grabbed the things he needed, and headed to the bathroom to shower and dress for the day.Think positive,Tanner said. But how can I when I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop?
Sighing, he stared into the mirror while brushing his teeth, still hating that none of his freckles were in sight.Was it the price I paid for coming back to life? I guess I have to deal with it. Star furrowed his brows as a thought came to him.How come Tanner said nothing about them being gone? In high school, he always said he wished he had freckles. So weird.
Putting the thought aside for later, he continued to inspect himself now that he had better lighting. Other than his missing freckles, everything looked in order, and he could still get a modeling job if he didn't get the acting part.Fuck, I haven't even looked at the audition scene. He'd brought his reels, headshots, and resume. The good thing was it was an open audition; he didn't need to worry about having an agent, and he had a couple of days to prepare.
Grabbing his phone, he brought up the audition scene Tanner sent him and read through it for the first time, and his eyes widened with each word he read. He wasn't sure how Tanner thought he would be perfect for the part. It was about a man who owned a brothel patronized by unsavory men and women. The story took place in the 1880s, and the bordello owner was a man with secrets. He was described as cold, calculated, and unfeeling.
Star furrowed his brows.Does Tanner think I'm like the brothel owner?
He looked back at the mirror, peering at his eyes that seemed to sparkle with so much life, even with the events that had happened to him lately. Then he looked at his mouth, covered in toothpaste, and smiled, but it felt odd that he was trying to smile for no reason. Then, closing his mouth, he looked and felt normal—no pretense in his expression.
But acting is all about pretending. So, can I be an actor if I can't even fake a smile? Or maybe Tanner is right, and I'm cold and unfeeling.
