Page 21 of Lucky 22

I look around, loving the decor—it’s very rustic-modern withdark wood tables, wrought-iron details, and dim Edison-bulb lighting. Andsitting here in the corner, it almost feels like we have the place toourselves.

Within minutes, we have our drinks, and I order the coq auvin. Christian orders the steak. As soon as our server takes our menus, it’slike we both audibly relax, and then laugh softly because we did it in sync.

“Okay, I have a question,” he begins, his voice loweringjust a bit. The deep timbre of it makes me shiver. I never knew a voice couldbe so…sexy. His hands are folded on the table, and I’m fascinated by them, too.“Is Ella Holt a stage name or your real name?”

“It’s my real name. My full name is Ella Rose Holt, but noone ever calls me that.”

He studies me, his head tilted, his expression thoughtful.“It’s a beautiful name. Ella Rose. It totally fits you.” The intensity of hisgaze and the way he says my name practically have me on sensory overload.

Oh, my…

I can feel myself blushing, and I duck my head for a momentto compose myself. When I look up, he’s still watching me, and everythingaround us fades away.

We talk about our lives and how we both grew up in centralFlorida and how it was such a coincidence that we only lived thirty minutesapart. It’s a little wild how many similar experiences we’ve had. It almostfeels like we should have met at some point long before this, but obviously, wedidn’t.

Our families are alike, as well. Christian has foursiblings, and I have three. Both of his parents were schoolteachers. My mom isa teacher, too, and we were both very passionate about our prospective careersfrom a young age.

“Did you always want to act?” he asks.

I nod. “Definitely.” I tell him about how my dad worked forWonder Land when I was a kid, and how going to the parks so frequently made mewant to be a part of it all. “I knew from the time I was young that I wanted tobe on a Storyteller Channel show. Like, it had to be that specifically. Iremember taking singing lessons, dancing lessons, and then acting lessons. Ican’t think of a time when this wasn’t the dream.”

“And you’re clearly doing it,” he says. “You’re on one oftheir shows right now, aren’t you?”

I nod before taking a sip of my water. “It’s a recurringrole, so I’m not in every episode, but people recognize me for playing thecharacter.”

“What’s that like?”

For a moment, I’m not sure if he’s being serious or notbecause I’m pretty sure he gets recognized everywhere he goes, too. But when hejust continues to look at me, I guess he genuinely wants to know.

“It’s actually very exciting,” I admit. “I mean, it’s notlike I’ve got a mob of people chasing me, but I always love it when someonesees me and their expression changes, and…” I gasp and mimic the look. “It’sjust so cool.”

“It can be exciting,” he agrees. “So, how did you end uphere in LA? You’re from Florida, and I know you said you were chasing the dreamof starring on one of Storyteller’s shows, but I’m sure there’s more to thestory.”

That’s putting it mildly, I silently muse.

Leaning back a bit against the cushions, I know I want togive him the abbreviated version of my journey. The last thing I want to do isdominate the conversation and have him think I’m one of those self-absorbedpeople who only talk about themselves.

“Well, like I said, I took all the lessons while I wasgrowing up. I knew I had to start making a name for myself regionally and buildmy resume. In the beginning, it was being an extra on a Storyteller televisionspecial. Then the choir I was in was cast for one of their holiday specials.You can still see it on YouTube.”

He grins. “Really?”

“Oh, yeah.” Pausing, I take another sip of water. “I waspart of my high school theater department and the community one, as well. I didsome local commercials and some modeling, but…”

Christian holds up his hand to stop me. “Okay, I have to askthis. Did you ever get to work at Wonder Land? It seems like such a logicalstep for you, especially with your dad working there, and would offer the mostopportunities. At least that’s my take on it.”

“Funny story. I applied to work there on my sixteenthbirthday and got the job.”

His brow furrows. “And that’s funny…why?”

“Well, in my head, I was going to be this amazing performer inshows and parades. I had memorized all the songs and choreography from all myyears at the parks. It just seemed like that was what I would do.”

“And it wasn’t?”

I shook my head. “Not even close. I was essentially ahandler for the characters, and my job was to stay in the background. Then theyput me in a troll costume. I mean, you just look at me and think troll, right?”My eyes roll before I can even stop them, and then I’m laughing.

But so is Christian, and it turns into an exceptionalmoment.

“I did eventually get to be in a parade, so that wasexciting.”