Read Online Dazzled by Jane Harvey-Berrick - Free Book Online Page B

Clare to talk her way through immigration, and this woman was just staring at me. I shoved my hands in my pockets and shuffled from foot to foot but I couldn’t act casual. How fucking pathetic was that? I was an actor, for God’s sake, and I couldn’t even act casual.
    I tried ignoring her but eventually she walked over.
    “Hi! Can I have your autograph?”
    What?
    “Er…”
    “You were with Lilia Purcell at the Metron Awards – I saw your picture.”
    “Er…”
    “You make a really cute couple.”
    “Thanks.” I didn’t know what else to say.
    She handed me a chewed biro that was leaking green ink, and I signed my name on the scrap of paper she held out for me. I think it was the receipt for her grocery shopping. I could see her squinting at my horrible handwriting, trying to work out if she recognized my signature. She looked vaguely disappointed but smiled and thanked me anyway.
    That was weird . And now my fingers were covered in green ink.
    I didn’t really get the chance to process what had happened… or even to enjoy the experience. It would be something to tell Clare. No doubt she’d laugh her arse off.
    And then I saw her – the surly expression that I’d missed so much. I couldn’t stop smiling. It felt like months since we’d been together, not just a few weeks.
    I caught her eye, and she grinned at me. It was like coming home, having her here, and I felt myself relax properly for the first time since I’d landed in LaLaLand.
    “Wow! Look at you! Mr. Movie Star!”
    I scooped her into my arms and hugged her tightly.
    “Bloody hell, it’s good to see you, Clare! I’ve really missed you.”
    “You big lug! You’ve been too busy wining, dining and smooching with the glitterati to worry about me.”
    “Not true. I’m wounded! I’ve thought about you… at least twice.”
    She thumped me on the arm.
    “Ow!”
    “Wimp!”
    I’d forgotten how strong she was – for a short-arse. I grabbed her case. Jeez! What had she got in there – the Encyclopedia Britannica?
    It was so easy being with Clare. We talked all the way, catching up on what I’d missed. Not so much by the sound of it, although Paul and Nazzer had taken the VW camper and gone off to some beer festival in Prague. I felt a twinge of sadness that I wasn’t with them. But Clare was totally jazzed to be here in Kal-e-forn-ia.
    “You remember my friend Jess? Her of the motormouth… She was speechless when I told her I was coming out here – and you know how rare that is!”
    She laughed and it was so good to hear.
    “So what’ve you been up to – apart from landing mega film roles and dying your hair.”
    I laughed a little uncomfortably. “It’s hardly a mega film role, Clare.”
    She frowned at me.
    “Okay, well maybe it is, for me, but…”
    “But what?”
    Truth or dare time.
    “I am absolutely bricking it.”
    She rolled her eyes. Not the reaction I was expecting: sympathy and support would have been nice.
    “Oh come on, Miles. Don’t be so… you’re always like this – every time you get a job we get the whole spiel about what a terrible actor you are and what sort of retard would give you a job. That you’re not a real actor, that you’ll be found out because you’re a fraud. Heard it all before, mate.”
    Wow . I’d forgotten how surgical she could be. Clare took no prisoners.
    I was quiet. “This is a really big deal for me.”
    She sighed. “I know. You’ll be great.” She took my hand and squeezed it. “I mean it. It’ll be okay.”
    “I’m so glad you’re here.”
    She smiled, but for the briefest moment there was a look I didn’t understand flickering across her face. It was gone before I could identify it.

    Clare

    Miles had gone to the trouble of booking a taxi to take us back to his place. No waiting for the bus for Mr. Movie Star. I wanted to tease him but I thought it was too soon for that. He was even more on edge than usual – which was saying something. But damn, he looked