Page 85 of Mister Mom

“Hey,” I say, shrugging out of my coat and sliding in across from him.

Two Splendas sit next to my cup with a spoon.

“Thanks.” I tear open the packages and pour them into the cup, stirring with the spoon.

“I’m—”

I place my hand up in the air, shaking my head. “No. I’m sure you’re sorry. Now.”

“I wanted to tell you.” He continues to talk but I feel like I have to say my piece.

“If you’d wanted to tell me you would have.”

He sulks back in his booth. “True.”

“This isn’t about you not hiring me—correction, having me fired—from Abandoned. It’s that you lied.”

“I—”

“Please just let me get all this out. It’s hard enough.” I look over my shoulder, finding a guy immersed in his computer. “And you didn’t think I was good enough.”

He shakes his head, but it’s the truth.

“You probably thought I was still that teeny-bopper actress who was only good for an audience of eight to thirteen-year-olds. You didn’t see any value in my talent then, so how can I trust that you do now?”

He sits up straighter. “I do, Layla. I was wrong. So fucking wrong. I’m ashamed to admit it, but there was this other actress, Gwen… and… I did something I shouldn’t have.”

I ball my hands into fists. “What exactly do you mean?”

He heaves out a heavy sigh. “Gwen and I were sort of seeing each other at the time and she really wanted the part and I agreed to make it happen for her. I did that by throwing you under the bus. I’m not proud of it.”

That part went on to be a recurring role for her and shot her up to Hollywood’s A-list.

“Did you even feel bad about it at the time?”

Vance pushes his coffee to the side and stretches his arms out across the table and leans in. “I felt terrible. I swear I did before I even knew you. But if I’m honest, at the time I didn’t know your body of work after the kids’ channel stuff and I wasn’t sure you could pull off the role. Now I know I was wrong.”

I scoff. “That’s convenient. When did you change your mind?”

“After I met you. After Hannah told me to watch a film you were in. Polarized.”

I take a sip of my coffee, forcing him to wait for my response. “That movie was horrible.”

“The movie may not have been stellar, but you… you were brilliant. I may have misjudged you in the past and let my dick rule my thinking by having you fired, but you are supposed to be in my film. This is the role for you. I hope it’s a breakout role, but even if the film goes nowhere, there’s no other actress who should have it.”

“Because of Hannah, right?”

His shoulders sag and he leans back. He’s up against a wall, I know he is, but how can I ever trust him?

“Hannah wanted you originally, that’s true. Now I want you just as much.”

I slide my coffee to the side. “Vance, I’m sorry, but I can’t be with you and for that reason I can’t take the role. There are so few people in this town I can trust. I thought you were one of them, but you’re obviously not. I have no room in my life for people who aren’t one hundred percent behind me. My parents use me for money. Friends have used me for connections. I thought you were someone who was going to stand by my side and fight to protect me. Sure, everyone has their ups and downs, but not once did I think you’d intentionally hurt me. Which is what you did when you kept the truth from me. Do you have any idea how hard it is to break out of the child star pigeonhole once this industry has placed you there? Some days even I question whether I’ll ever be able to make it happen for myself. I’m at a crossroads with my career and I need people who will help me push my self-doubt to the side and who will believe in me. I thought you were one of those people, but it turns out you didn’t believe in me either.”

I suck in a deep breath to try and keep the tears threatening to pour from my eyes in place.

“I do believe in you, Layla. You’re more talented than anyone gives you credit for. I’m sorry I acted like a dick, I really am. You’ll be happy to know she’s the reason I was fired from Abandoned.”

I won’t lie and say there isn’t a little satisfaction in knowing that. My curiosity gets the better of me and I have to ask.

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