Page 82 of Don't Quit the Day Job

"I know, and I know you must probably feel like you have this soul-tying connection with him, but you have to get to know him better."

"I know," I admit. "I just hope that he wants to get to know me better too."

"He'd be a fool if he didn't," she assures me, squeezing my hands. "You're beautiful, Lila, and I love that you have this connection, but I don't want you to give up on your dream. I don't want you to forget about acting. It's been your whole life up until now, and I'm just nervous that you're going to focus on this job and him and forget about what you really want to do."

"I will never forget about my dreams and goals to be an A-list actress," I say, shaking my head. "Of course I'm going to go to auditions, and of course I'm going to do everything I can to land as many roles as possible, but it doesn't hurt that I work for the most gorgeous man in the city and I can't seem to keep my mind off of him." My phone pings and I look down. It's Max. He sent me a picture of himself brushing his teeth and my heart races. I hold up the phone and show Zara and she smiles and shakes her head.

"He's attractive, I'll give you that, but why is he sending you that picture?"

"It's probably to let me know he's thinking of me." I say softly, and my heart melts. I know I'm being absolutely crazy, but maybe, just maybe, Max cares for me as well.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Max

"Hey, you're not sleeping, are you?" I whisper into the phone when Lila answers. It's one o'clock in the morning and I haven't been able to get her out of my mind.

"I was kind of asleep," she says.

I chuckle. "What do you mean you were kind of asleep?"

"Well, I was watching a TV show and I guess I must've fallen asleep."

"You were watching TV?" I ask. "I don't remember seeing a TV in your apartment."

"I was watching a show on my laptop, goofy."

"Oh, okay. What show?"

"It's called Death in Paradise. It's a British murder mystery. Have you ever seen it?" she asks.

"No," I say. "I don't really watch that much TV. So what are you up to?" I ask her as I lay in bed.

"Well, I basically just told you I was watching a show and falling asleep. What are you up to?"

"I am just in bed thinking about you."

"Oh, really?" she says. "Is that your way of telling me you want a booty call?"

"No. I would never expect a booty call from you, sweet pea."

"Uh huh…sure you wouldn't."

"I wish I would've been able to come over this evening. Thank you for the invite," I say, smiling into the phone.

"So then why didn't you come?" she asks.

"Because I was busy with a couple of things." For some reason, I don't want to tell her about Marie and the craziness that is my family. I mean, I don't want her feeling sorry for me. It’s a little early to drop on her the fact that my father is a serial cheater and that my eighteen-year-old sister is coming to live with me because she’s devastated that both her parents are cheating on each other. Definitely not something that Lila needs to be made aware of at this point in time, if ever. "So, are you wanting to get off the phone?" I ask, not really sure what to say.

"I know you didn't call and wake me up to ask me if I want to get off the phone. What's going on, Max?"

"Nothing. I was just here lying in bed thinking about last night and how much fun I had with you and how I hope we get to do it again soon."

"You mean the cock warming part or the smoothie part? And do not say you mean the spinning part because I'm never taking another spin class again in my life."

"Oh, darn it," I say, joking. "I was hoping you'd take a spin class with me again."

"No, you weren't," she giggles.

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