Page 76 of Never To Be Mine

“Not pushed, exactly. But he definitely encouraged it. He wanted me involved in Young at Heart from the beginning, and getting the credentials made sense if I was going to be making decisions about what products we developed and sold.”

I nodded, understanding that dynamic better than she probably realized. “My father did the same thing. Wanted all of us to go into film, follow in his footsteps. Build the family empire.”

“But none of you took him up on it?”

“Not in the way he wanted. Micah’s the only one really pursuing it, and even he’s doing it his own way, trying to establish himself as a director independently before he touches anything with the Blackwell name attached.” I leaned back in my chair. “The rest of us scattered in different directions. I went into wellness. My brother and sister have a wedding business with their friend. We all wanted to prove we could succeed without riding our parents’ coattails.”

“That must have disappointed him.”

“Yes, he never lets us hear the end of it,” I said, grinning. “But I think deep down he respects that we’re trying to make our own marks on the world.”

Our food arrived, and for a few minutes we just ate in companionable silence. The salmon was perfectly cooked, the quinoa seasoned just right, which was a challenge. I watched Juno take her first bite of the grain bowl and saw the satisfied expression cross her face.

“Good?” I asked.

“It is. You have excellent taste in restaurants.”

“I try.”

She took another bite, then set her fork down. “For what it’s worth, I’m happy working with my father. I know a lot of people would find it stifling or feel like they’re living in someone’s shadow, but it’s not like that for us.”

“Yeah? What makes it different?”

“We both genuinely care about what we’re doing. It’s not just about making money or building some empire. We actually want to help people live healthier lives.” She took another bite. “I like that our business contributes something positive. The products we sell are good for people.”

I nodded enthusiastically. Rarely did I meet people that were of the same mindset. It was usually money first, actual health benefits second. “I feel the same way. I’m not in this just to get rich or famous or whatever people think. I actually want to make people’s lives better, even if it’s just by giving them a drink that tastes decent and helps them feel good.”

She offered a small smile. “I believe you. I didn’t at first, but I do now.”

“What changed your mind?”

“Seeing your operation. The way you talk about it. You’re not faking the passion. It’s real.”

That meant more to me than I’d expected. I took a drink of water, trying to figure out how to respond without sounding like a complete sap.

“I’m glad you believe me,” I said.

“I do. Shame on me for judging a book by its cover.”

I couldn’t explain it but knowing she believed I was more than the son of Hollywood royalty meant a lot. It was the biggest compliment ever.

The restaurant buzzed with conversation around us, but it felt like we were in our own little bubble. I liked sharing a meal with her. I liked hanging out with her in general.

“So now you know,” she said finally. “Why I take this stuff so seriously. Why I was so hard on you at the expo. It’s not just business for me. It’s personal.”

“I get it. And for what it’s worth, I’m glad you were hard on me. Made me prove I was serious instead of just coasting by on charm.”

“What about you?” she asked.

“What about me?”

“What’s your why?” she asked. “Why are you so passionate about health food?”

I looked down at my plate, pushing quinoa around with my fork while I figured out how to explain this without sounding preachy. But Juno had been honest with me, so I owed her the same.

“Growing up in Hollywood, you see a lot of shit that most people don’t realize is happening behind the scenes. The industry is obsessed with appearance. Always has been, always will be. And that obsession creates this toxic culture around food and bodies. It’s not really a secret actresses are held to some pretty wild beauty standards.”

She gave me her full attention. “Impossible standards.”