AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We’re going to work on this while we’re in Hawaii.”
“Work on what?”
“I’ll be your videographer, and we’ll film some new content for you,” he said. “Maybe some sexy shirtless videos on the beach, what do you say?”
I laughed at that and told him, “I don’t think anyone wants to see my alarmingly pale and generally underwhelming chest.”
“You’re so hard on yourself.”
“I’m realistic. I’m just not built for the whole beefcake thing. I’d have to hire a personal trainer and start working out four hours a day like my twin obviously did to pull that off, which isn’t going to happen.”
Harper shook his head. “You don’t even get how sexy you are, even when you’re wearing what’s basically a poncho. Which begs the question, why are all your clothes two sizes too big for you? Or five, in the case of that giant T-shirt.”
“I don’t like to attract attention to myself.”
He grinned and said, “Well, that’s an awesome attribute for a performer.”
“It’s one thing to be the center of attention when I’m onstage, although even then I dress in the same jeans and flannel shirts I always wear. But in general, I prefer to fade into the background.” I began picking out a song on the guitar as I added, “As for this T-shirt, it’s very soft, and I was all about comfort tonight.”
He listened to the tune I was playing for a while, and then he asked, “Will you sing me something new without all the kinks worked out yet?”
I shot him a look. “Going back to what you were saying before about my tendency to rehearse the life out of everything?”
“That’s not exactly what I said. I think it was more along the lines of letting yourself make mistakes.”
“Okay. Well, this one’s going to be rough as hell because I’m still working on it, so here goes nothing.”
I felt too self-conscious to look at him while I sang a new song that didn’t even have a name yet and played along on the guitar. It was a sad little song about giving up on a dream, and I didn’t even know why I picked that one, except that it meant something to me.
Once I finished, I put the guitar on the coffee table and murmured, “Told you it was rough. I should have gone with a different one.”
When I finally hazarded a glance at him, there was some sort of strong emotion in his eyes, and he told me, “That was gorgeous, Phee.”
“You really think so?”
He nodded, and then he moved to my end of the couch. I wrapped my arms around him, and he settled in and put his head on my chest. After a few moments, he asked, “Do you ever feel that way? About giving up on your dreams, I mean?”
“All the fucking time.”
He looked up at me and ran his fingers over my beard. “You’ll probably hate this idea because you’re the most fiercely independent person I know, but I’m going to put it out there anyway. I know people in the music industry, and I’d love to make a few calls for you and get a sample of your music in the right hands.”
“No thanks.”
“Why not, though?”
“For one thing, I don’t want to use you to get ahead. That doesn’t feel right to me. I also want to make it in this industry based on my ability, not because of you, or my famous twin, or anyone else.”
“But that’s how this game is played, Phee. It’s all about who you know,” he said. “I got my last movie because I started talking to a casting agent at a party, and she thought I’d be perfect for the part. It was a role I never would have been offered otherwise, because my agent and everyone else didn’t think it was in my wheelhouse. But I’m prouder of that film than anything else I’ve done.”
“You were great in it. I was on set a lot with Will, and I was impressed by what I saw.”
He grinned and said, “Thanks, but this is about you, not me.”
“I appreciate the fact that you want to help. I really do. But you don’t have to worry about my sad little musical career, or lack thereof.”
After a pause, he said, “It’s weird. People always want something from me. Like, literally always, whether it’s a fan looking for an autograph or a fellow actor trying to use me to get ahead in this business. Then there’s you.”
“In that case, you should be glad I don’t want anything from you. That must get old after a while.”
“But don’t you see? I want you to need me.”
“I don’t understand,” I said. “Why would you want that?”
“Because this feels so uneven. I need you for pretty much everything, but you don’t really need me at all.”
