Fauxmance (Showmance #2)(97)
And I was a lucky bastard.
After over a year, I’d surprised myself with how suited I was to monogamy. Just like there were positives to being single, there were many positives to being in a relationship, too. I adored having a partner, someone to share all aspects of my life with. Someone to come home to, because Ellen was my home now. I never felt the urge to stray, to seek comfort with another. In Ellen, I found what I hadn’t realised I’d been looking for. My heart had been searching for her all this time, I just hadn’t known it.
After several months and much discussion, we’d decided to move in together. I’d grown frustrated switching between my flat and her house, and since she had the bigger place, we agreed that was where we would live. I did say I was an evolved modern gentleman. I could handle the fact that my partner earned significantly more than me.
I may have had quite a lucrative career as an escort, but I couldn’t compete with the likes of E.S. Grant.
Speaking of careers, I found a new and engaging calling in film and TV. It turned out there was a certain need for technical consultants with my particular variety of experience. It was fast-paced and exciting, and I was currently consulting on the set of a television show that featured a call girl.
Ellen and I moved along the barricade. Lots of people had brought books for her to sign. After about twenty minutes, we finally made it to the press section.
To our left, a journalist called out, “Miss Grant! Miss Grant!”
Unlike the actors attending the premiere, Ellen didn’t have a PR agent to field requests. It might be something for her to consider, seeing as her books had become even more popular since the movie started getting promoted.
Seeing her apprehension, I placed my hand to the small of her back and whispered in her ear, “Picture them all naked, perhaps?”
She arched an eyebrow. “Sometimes I wonder if you have a secret desire to become a naturist. You have a startling preoccupation with nudity.”
I slid my thumb over the inside of her wrist. “Only yours, and mine. Preferably together.”
A satisfying shudder went through her and she gave a breathy giggle. We reached the journalist, a blonde woman with an asymmetrical bob. “Miss Grant, you look fantastic tonight. How does it feel to finally see your story on the big screen?”
Ellen opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. Like I’d coached her, she took a deep breath in and out, then finally replied, “Well, I haven’t actually seen it, but I’m pretty excited. I feel incredibly fortunate that all this has happened. Few books see their films actually come to fruition.”
“Very true! Do you know anything about a sequel? Has it been given the green light?”
She laughed. “Slow down, nobody’s even seen the first one yet.”
I beamed at her, unable to help the pride I felt. She might’ve been a little tongue-tied to begin with, but now she was taking it in stride.
“And what about the lead actors? Are the rumours true that they’re dating?”
Ever since filming began, gossip surrounded Alicia and David, and whether or not they were seeing each other. David told me it was all false, and that he and Alicia were merely friends.
“I have no idea,” Ellen replied. “You’ll have to ask them that.”
The woman affected a disappointed pout and then there was a flurry of activity as another car arrived. Almost to contradict my previous thought, the door opened and David emerged, followed by Alicia. If I wasn’t mistaken, they both looked a little rosy-cheeked. Had they just…?
Alicia took David’s arm and they strode forward to greet the fans, sign posters, and pose for selfies.
I glanced at Ellen and saw she was just as intrigued as I was, though the fact that they arrived together didn’t necessarily mean anything. Co-stars arrived at premieres together all the time. Still, this wouldn’t help the rumours.
As David and Alicia passed us by, I caught hold of my friend’s elbow. “Something you’d like to tell me?” I asked curiously.
David shook his head, though I did catch a hint of coyness. “Nothing at all, Julian.”
That sneaky bastard.
I knew the look of a man who was getting laid. Though honestly, if Alicia made David happy, then that was good enough for me.
Ellen and I entered the cinema and I quickly procured her a glass of wine. She took it gratefully.
“That was crazy.”
I smiled with affection. “Better get used to it.”
We made our way inside. There was to be a short question and answer session before the film started. I stood off to the side as Ellen took a seat on stage next to Damon. Also present were David and Alicia, and two other members of the cast, Peter and Anna. The host introduced everyone and asked Damon several questions to start; why did he choose this particular film for his directorial debut, how had the characters spoken to him. Alicia and David shared a few funny anecdotes from the set, while Peter and Anna expressed how lucky they felt to be involved.
Ellen spoke of her apprehension about having her book adapted for film. Her voice was clear and concise, confident even. I knew it took a lot for her to speak in front of hundreds of people, but with all the signings she’d done she was definitely getting used to it. She told the host how Damon was the only one she trusted with her baby, and that his vision truly captured her.
The host opened up questions to the room and lots of hands shot up, naturally. He pointed to a woman with brown hair. She stood, and an usher presented her with a microphone.