Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Finally satisfied with my outfit, or at least giving up on fixing it the same way a hundred times, I head downstairs to the living room. The entire downstairs is furnished, painted, and decorated in a way I never would’ve planned out myself. I love the way she turned the den into a game room with a pool table I got from a friend of mine who didn’t want it anymore. The living room actually feels like a space where I can relax now, and I’ve been eating meals in the dining room because it has a comforting vibe. It’s amazing how an interior designer can transform a space I’ve been existing in into one I want to live in. It makes leaving the house that much harder. I’ve hardly spent any time here over the last week between filming and spending as much time as I can with Leila. Thankfully, we’re just a few weeks out from finishing this movie. Unfortunately, that means I’m just a few weeks out from finishing my deal with Leila.
Did the other night change that? I guess I’ll find out soon.
There’s a knock on my door, and I practically run to answer it. Leila is standing there on my front porch wearing a beautiful silver gown that flows down to the ground and those same heels she wore to the charity ball.
“Hey! Do I look okay? I don’t know how to dress for a red carpet.”
“You look beautiful,” I tell her. “Perfect. Shall we go? We’re taking my car. It’s not really a limo-type event. But I could get a limo if you want. Do you want me to call for a car?”
Leila laughs. “It’s fine. I’d rather take your car.”
“Okay, perfect.”
We’re both quiet as I drive downtown to the theater. It’s a quaint little movie theater with a well-lit lot next door. Out front, there’s a small red carpet with only five or six cameras and reporters there to cover it. They’re probably interns or assistants who were stuck doing this small event. They all look bored as we drive by.
I park in the lot and turn to Leila. “Would you like to join me on the red carpet? It’s not as bad as you’d think. This one will be quiet.”
She bites her lip. “Is it okay if I meet you inside? The lights and all the yelling … I don’t know if I can handle that.”
“Totally fine. It won’t be like what you see before bigger events, but you don’t have to walk with me. Just go around the outside behind the cameras. The theater has your name, so you’ll be able to get in without me.”
“Thanks, Spencer. I appreciate it.”
We walk together until the beginning of the red carpet. I kiss Leila’s cheek, and she saunters off to the door, waving to me once more before disappearing inside.
“Spencer!” the first reporter yells. A few cameras take pictures of me. I must be the first person from the movie to have arrived. “How excited are you about the film?”
“Very. I think it’s going to be a hit with horror fans. It was a lot of fun to film something a bit different for me.”
“This is a big change from the romcoms you’ve been doing. How’d you get involved?”
“As you know, Scott Gibbons was my TV dad in As We Grow. When he decided to make his directorial debut and asked me to star, I couldn’t say no.”
“That’s great. Now, we have to ask, how’s your love life? We saw your girlfriend went in without you. Trouble in paradise?”
“Not at all,” I say with a smile. “Leila prefers the quiet life, so she’s inside getting ready to watch the movie. She hasn’t seen it yet, so I’m pretty excited to share it with her.”
I finish the interview and move on to the next, which is pretty much the same. Every reporter asks me about Leila. When this first started, that was the goal, but now I feel like I’m invading her privacy by talking about her. Maybe we should talk about what is off-limits with the press, especially if the other night changed things.
When I finally get inside, Leila is waiting for me by the bar. Only about ten people are milling about, none of whom I recognize. We got here early.
“Hey! Look! They gave me champagne and popcorn. For free! This is so cool. And did you know this theater is like a hundred years old? The bartender said it’s haunted. Is that why your horror movie is playing here?”
I laugh. “I have no idea. How much champagne have you had?”
“None, actually. I was waiting for you. I’m just excited. This is my first premier. I almost went to one my first week because I saw it was happening and figured I’d crash it, but I got too scared. This is way more fun. Thank you for bringing me!”