Page 23 of Scrap Metal & Love Reforged
My coffee was a masterpiece—whipped cream, caramel, chocolate chips. Therightway. “I didn’t invite you out to coffee, so you could stare at your phone,” Brandon said.
“You’re not my mother. I don’t have to listen to you.”
Brandon arched a brow. “Weak comeback, Seth.”
I pointedly turned my phone screen-down on the table. “Happy, Mother?”
“Hilarious,” Brandon deadpanned. “Whoareyou so interested in? Is it Troy?”
“Why would it be Troy?”
Brandon sipped from his coffee and shrugged. “I assumed. He’s a friend?”
“Just a friend. And completely uninterested in men.”
Even though Brandon was one of my best friends, I wouldn’t tell evenhimTroy’s secret. I’d promised I would tell no one, so I wouldn’t. Not even Brandon.
My phone beeped and, flashing Brandon a bright smile, I picked my phone off the table.
“You’re addicted,” Brandon observed.
“Hardly.”
It was Old Blue. We’d met on a car forum, and from there, we’d moved toDiscord. Great guy—hard-working, sharp, self-professed awkward with people. My opposite, but witty and funny. And he knew a lot.
“I know you’ll probably say I told you so. But I guess I’ll admit it. You were right. I need to get out more. I had fun.”
“I think you are,” Brandon said.
I wrinkled my nose. “I get it, Brandon. Fire bad, Edison is Satan. Kids these days,” I replied, waving a hand.
Brandon grinned. “Thatiswhat it’s like with you sometimes. Like I’m dealing with a perpetual sixteen-year-old whose parents never taught him—”
“My parents taught me how to be utterly awesome,” I said. “Thank you for noticing.”
Although that wasn’t entirely fair. My nanny probably deserved some credit. As a businessman, my father was often away, and my mother liked to travel alone.
Brandon shook his head. “Impossible. It’s like talking to a lampshade, with the bulb turned off.”
I grinned. “But I’myourlampshade.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Hey, don’t forget that Imadeyour movie career. Without my superb acting, your film would’ve flopped.” A complete lie.
Brandon’s film was good because he’d cared about it and worked hard on it, as had everyone else.
“When are you starting the next one?” I asked.
Brandon shrugged. “Depends on how much we get from crowdfunding. We did well with the first one. I might try doing some freelancing stuff in the meantime. Wedding videography, you know. Those sorts of things.”
“Sounds dull.”
Brandon chuckled. “Some of us have to work for a living, Seth.”
“I work for a living. I’m anactor,” I replied.
“With three whole acting credits to your name. And all of them in small shoots. Truly, you’rethedefinitive actor of our generation. I don’t know how you can even go out on the town without being swarmed by your fans.”