Page 7 of Lucky 22

“Ella, come on. Between auditions and working, you’re alwayson the go. Now, you’re shooting a movie—which, by the way, I am so excited foryou! I haven’t landed anything in months. Pretty soon, I may have to go back toworking at The Cheesecake Factory,” she murmurs.

“Oh, stop. You’ll get something soon. I just know it. Andwhile this movie is great, it’s almost over. I’ll be back at the coffee shopagain any day.” I sigh. “I really wish someone would spot me on the street andjust gush that I’m exactly the type of person they need for their major motionpicture and hire me on the spot.”

Whitney sighs, too. “Yeah. That’s the dream. Unfortunately, theonly time things like that happen is in the actual movies.”

“I know.”

“Back to setting you up…the baseball schedule is reallyintense. Christian is either in training, playing here, or traveling to playsomewhere else. I don’t know how easy it will be for him to find free time fora date, but it’s worth a shot, right?”

We’re quiet for a moment, then she asks, “So? What do youthink? You get zero percent of the chances you don’t take. What if you made eyecontact for a reason? He could be your person. Look, the worst he can say isno.”

“But Ryan doesn’t have his number, and that seems like a lotof work to find a way to get in touch with him.” It’s tempting, but…I don’tcommit. “I’ll think about it.”

We enjoy the rest of our night and promise to get togetheragain soon. I finish filming two weeks later, and then I’m right back toserving coffee—just like I said I would be.

A month later, my publicist calls to talk to me about themovie premiere. Ava Mitchell has been my publicist for almost two years. Sheand my agent are all about getting me seen, and I’m thankful for that. Themovie will have a limited theatrical run, but they’re still doing a red-carpetthing for it that I’m looking forward to.

“Okay, so, the premiere,” she says excitedly. “Who are youbringing as your date?”

“My date?”

“Oh, sweetie, you need to have a date for something likethis. Aren’t you dating anyone?”

“Um…no?” I squeak.

“We need to find you someone,” she says. “Anyone you’reinterested in? Someone you’ve maybe gone out on a date or two with? You know LAis filled with guys who would love to go to a movie premiere and network withthe cast and crew.”

Not any of the guys I know, but I don’t tell her that.

“My friend Whitney was trying to convince me to let her fixme up with this baseball player guy,” I say with a small laugh. “I saw him at agame, and his number is my lucky number. We’re both from Central Florida…”

“Ella, that’s perfect! You need to go out with him.”

“Ava, I can’t. I’ve never even met him, and I don’t think amovie premiere is the sort of thing you do on a blind date.”

“But it’s not a blind date. You’ve seen him, so you know whohe is. And…wait. Who is he?”

“Christian Lucas. He plays for the Magic. But…”

“If I put in a call to their PR team and hook the two of youup, will you go out with him?”

Oh, Geez. Would I?

Should I?

“I don’t know, Ava. How Hollywood is it of me tohave my publicist call his publicist? He’s going to think I’m some sort ofstuck-up actress.”

“This is how things are done,” she states. “Now, should Ireach out to his team or not?”

“Um…”

“It would make a great story, Ella.”

I can’t even believe I’m considering this, but…I trustWhitney’s opinion, and if she thinks this is something I should do, then Ishould go with that, right?

Before I can second-guess myself, I say, “Okay, I’m in. Makethe call.”

Chapter Two