Page 17 of Finding Her Leading Man

“Didn’t you say Addie was coming by to grab you for a run?” Grayson wiped his face off with his shirt. “And before you ask, no, I don’t want to run.”

“You’re so lazy.” Trevor jumped to the side before Grayson could knock him in the shoulder. The man was strong, and since ending his show in England, Grayson had two months to put twenty pounds of muscle back on for his next movie. Long-distance running wasn’t on the training plan.

Trevor picked up his phone. “Let me call them before Addie gets here.” Get it over and done. He put his phone on speaker. Having Grayson there to share in the ludicrous conversations always kept him a little more level-headed. Getting angry or frustrated didn’t solve his problems with them.

“Trevor!” His mom’s cultured voice never changed. He smiled. For all the irritation he had with his parents, he still liked hearing her voice. “What a nice surprise.”

“I wanted to check-in and see how your end of the wedding planning is going?”

“I found my dress, but I’m worried about your sister. I don’t like Addie planning her wedding by herself like this. I offered to hire a wedding planner. Do you know Terri? Terri. You know, my tennis friend…”

And then it started. The longest, most unimportant story about Terri’s daughter’s mother-in-law’s kidney stone. Trevor’s only response was a robotic “uh-huh” and “oh,” and maybe when her voice got higher, the standard “no kidding.”

Grayson relaxed on the ground after doing ab work, one arm slung over his face, and he appeared to be asleep.

Finally, Trevor’s mom ended her story by saying, “and that’s why you should never buy a foreign car.”

Trevor rubbed a hand over his face. “Alright. Well, I wanted to talk to you about the programs. Addie doesn’t want the extra expense. She and Cameron are paying for this.”

“I told her I would pay for the programs.”

“That’s not the point.Shedoesn’t want one.Theyare paying for the wedding. It’s not your wedding.”

There was a beat of silence.

“Trevor.” His dad’s booming voice echoed throughout the high school weight room they were in. Here it came. “You’ve made your mother upset.”

“Tell her that I apologize, but she’s not listening to what Addie wants.”

“Your mother has her own opinions. I’d appreciate it if you’d consider her feelings in the future.”

He didn’t want his mother upset, but she needed to listen to Addie. If he stayed silent long enough, his father would fill the void of conversation. Always did.

“Are you still in Statem?”

Trevor looked to Grayson, who already began to shake his head. “Yes. I’m here until at least after the wedding. Grayson is here until his next movie.”

“I hope you’re enjoying your free time, riding his coattails.”

Trevor eyed the thick contract he’d just finished. “I am enjoying spending time with Addie and Cameron. Cameron’s family is nice. You’ll like them.”

“Of course, I’ll like them. A man following in his father’s footsteps is admirable.”

Trevor let out a sharp laugh. “Right. Just so you know, I am not inclined to be an investment banker. I’ll stick to riding Grayson’s coattails, as you put it, and do the best I can for him and live my own damn life. Tell mom that I need her help picking out a new color for the floor in my kitchen. She can send me some suggestions if she wants to. And remember, Addie doesn’t want programs. I know you don’t want your daughter upset on her wedding day.”

“I don’t know why you’re so difficult.”

It was on the tip of Trevor’s tongue to snap it right back at his dad, but he held the comment inside. It didn’t solve anything to get into a back and forth with the man. The only person a fight would hurt in the end is Addie.

Trevor fell back onto the floor. Were all parents this exasperating or only his?

“Trevor?” His mom’s voice came back on the line. “I did one of those video chats with Addie yesterday. I had no idea your new girlfriend was already in Statem with you.”

Slowly, Trevor sat up. “Can you say that again?”

“Your girlfriend, dear. Samantha, I think, is her name. You never told me her name. I am really interested in the details of your life. I’d love it if we could schedule regular days to talk.”

“Of course.” At least that phrase came out sounding sincere. “What exactly did Addie say?” He hadn’t even gotten Samantha to agree to a real date yet. She still jumped and froze each time he touched her.

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