Page 8 of Hot Set

“Oh, no,” Brandon said. “Idefinitelywant to hear this.”

“During the Renaissance, a small penis was believed to be the mark of a gentleman,” I replied awkwardly. “So a lot of statues from that era have small, you know…”

“I see. I’ll bet you're fabulous at trivia games.”

I shook my head. “As long as it’s art history. Anything else, I suck. I do know a bit about drama, though. My minor was in stage make-up.”

“Really?” Brandon asked.

I nodded. “Art history is my one true love. My dream job is the FBI art forgery team. That’s why I got my degree in art history. My university requires you to have a minor if you’re getting a major in the arts, though. So, you know. Why not?”

“FBI, huh? That’s different,” Brandon replied.

“I guess. They haven’t called me back for an interview, yet.”

“I’m sure they will,” Brandon said.

“I don’t know about that,” I replied. “It would be nice, though.”

“And in the meantime, what are you doing? Besides hanging around on my movie set, obviously,” Brandon said, “Which you’re welcome to keep doing, of course.”

“Presently, I’m on the job hunt,” I said. “Super exciting. I know. I’m trying to get out more, too. I feel like I need to be a better person. More outgoing.”

Brandon nodded. “That’s a good goal to have.”

“You think?”

“Self-improvement is always a worthy goal,” Brandon said. “That’s why I’ve traveled so much. There’s this idea that when you’re young, you’re supposed to find yourself and everything, but that’s absurd. I think finding yourself is a never-endingjourney, and the more places you go, the more you learn about yourself.”

It must be nice to travel like that. I had only been to a handful of states; I'd never left the country.

“That’s profound,” I replied. “That you see it as a never-ending process.”

“Profound isn’t what most people say.”

“What do most people say, then?”

“Immature. Usually my father,” Brandon replied, “But I suppose it makes sense. It is his money supporting me. He would like me to settle down and have everything figured out, and I’m just not there yet.”

“No?”

Brandon shook his head. “Like this movie. It began as an impulse. It was something I hadn’t done before, so I thought I would try it. Now, it’s more of a passion project, but even after I’m done, I don’t know what I’ll do next.”

“I think people over-assume sometimes how easy it is to figure out what they want to do,” I replied, “Especially for the rest of your life.”

Brandon nodded. “I completely agree,” he replied.

“And sometimes, you just can’t,” I said. “I’m fully expecting to land a part-time retail job for a while.”

“Retail?” Brandon asked. “Why?”

“They’re always hiring.”

Brandon hummed and toyed with his straw.

I hesitated and toyed with the straw in my drink. I took a deep breath. “Unlessyou’rehiring,” I said.

I glanced up at him to see his reaction. Brandon’s lips quirked upward, seemingly in amusement. “Sothat’s why you came along,” he said.

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