Page 8 of My Best Friend Prince Charming

She bent down and picked up her dropped pencil. “Why do you look so upset about it?”

“Because it doesn’t feel right,” I admitted.

“Excuse me? How could something like that not feel right? You just had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity open up for you. They’re serving it to you on a gold platter, and it doesn’t feel right?”

I shrugged. I didn’t know how to explain it. “I’m really just worried about leaving Shannon behind. I promised her that we’d go to UNC together. I don’t want to miss out on that.”

“Have you told Shannon that you got the part yet?”

“Not yet. I know she’d put on a brave face for me and encourage me to go for it. She always puts her own feelings aside for others. But this time, I want to put Shannon first.”

“I don’t think this is about putting on a brave face. If you don’t accept this role, you’re going to regret it for the rest of your life. Being noble doesn’t help you or anyone else in this situation. Do you know how mad Shannon would be at you if she ever found out that you got the role and didn’t accept it?”

“It would be a complete uprooting of my life.” Meaning, it would uproot my life with Shannon.

“Ryker, you’re eighteen. You’re supposed to uproot your life right now. Either way, you’re uprooting your life, whether you choose UNC or the film role.”

“I guess that’s true.”

For the first time, I allowed myself to envision what it would be like to accept the role. It would change more for me than just moving out of the state and uprooting my life temporarily. It would mean that I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere without being recognized. Paparazzi might even begin to follow me around. My mind began swirling, and I couldn’t let myself think beyond that.

“Think about how much this could help your family financially. Your dad isn’t exactly rolling in the cash.”

Annie, one of the other servers, came around the corner. “Ryker, you just got a table with four people.”

I shoved my folder back into the pocket of my apron and followed Annie back out to the front of the restaurant. I hadn’t thought about how much I could help my family with the money I could earn from this movie, not to mention the subsequent movies I’d be more likely to be cast in after finishing the film. I basically had an entire film career now because of this one opportunity. Even if I sucked. I knew plenty of actors who were terrible and still got cast in lots of movies.

All of that meant I’d be able to buy my family a bigger house, and Ava and Parker could go to whatever college they wanted. I was lucky enough to have made good enough grades for a scholarship. Parker and Ava weren't so blessed. They both struggled with learning disabilities and needed constant help with their homework. If I had an endless supply of money, I could afford to hire tutors for them to help with schoolwork and therapists to help them deal with the trauma we all had from Mom leaving.

This was bigger than just me and Shannon. It was an opportunity for my entire family to thrive.

I went out to my section and greeted the family sitting at one of my tables. I took their drink order and went to the back and filled four glasses with ice and the various beverages they’d requested.

Aunt Kristen barked some orders to Stan, the guy flipping burgers. She saw me staring at her as she passed me with an armload of dirty dishes, and she pressed her lips together thoughtfully as she dumped the dishes next to the dishwasher.

“I’m going to do it,” I said.

A smile slowly stretched across her face. “That’s my boy.” She threw her arms around me, and I almost spilled the glass of Diet Coke I was setting on a tray.

Now I had to figure out how to break the news to Shannon. I’d be leaving after graduation, and that could mean I would never see her again.

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