Page 103 of Lights, Camera, Love

‘Catch you later, man,’ he mutters to Louis, who’s finally speechless, then guides me away. ‘Thanks for the rescue,’ Austin says as we find our way to the quieter end of the bar. ‘Louis asked me about my move to LA, and before I could even answer, he was revisiting his own LA glory days, with rain as the star subject. Honestly, it feels like everyone here tonight is trying to suck the life out of me.’

‘Welcome to showbiz,’ I reply with mock brightness.

He chortles and clinks his alcohol-free cider against my beer bottle. ‘It’s good to clap eyes on you, man. I didn’t think you’d be seen dead at that premiere.’

‘Let’s not count our chickens. I’m not sure yet whether I’ll survive being in the same room as all these oxygen thieves.’

Austin throws his head back and laughs, then rakes his gaze over me, two pink dots appearing on his cheeks. ‘So, how’s Melbourne?’

‘It’s all right. Too cold; too hot—depends on which day you ask me. The job’s great, though.’

‘Yeah, it sounds like you’re nailing it. As always.’ His thumb scrapes over the label on his bottle. ‘I’m, uh … I’m heading back to LA next week, after all. I ended up signing with that manager I messaged you about.’

‘Yeah? That’s fucking awesome. Go you.’ I hold up my beer, then take a swig, enjoying a little feeling of satisfaction that Austin appears to be doing well.

He gives the room a once-over. ‘There’s something else I should tell you,’ he adds quietly, leaning closer to me. ‘So, Evie’s friend Rafael … he’s, uh, he’s coming to LA, too. If you … catch my drift?’ He swallows audibly.

I nod, realising, a little sadly, that he doesn’t want anyone to hear this other than me. ‘I catch your drift. And I’mveryhappy for you.’ I smile, deepening the flush on his cheeks.

‘I’m not going to hide it forever,’ he promises, even though I didn’t ask. ‘I just need the movie to run itscourse without this taking over, and then I’m going to tell the world who I am.’ His focus drifts to where Rafael is selecting canapes off a tray. ‘And I’m extremely fuckin’ lucky,’ he adds, ‘because Rafa is supportive of that plan.’

‘I’m proud of you,’ I say.

‘Thanks.’ Austin pauses. ‘You know, it was hard not … not getting what I wanted.’ Our gazes break apart; I glance at the floor.

‘But I think the hardest part was hiding who I was,’ he continues. ‘Who Iam.And all this’—he signals around the room—‘is amazing. But if it comes down to this or being myself, then I’m going to choose me. Because, as much as I love being an actor, I’m getting really tired of pretending to be something I’m not.’

My eyes mist with admiration as I smile. ‘That might be the most inspiring thing I’ve ever heard. You should think about sharing it with your mum and dad, too.’

He tenses.

‘I know you’re scared of disappointing them,’ I add gently, ‘because of their, let’s be honest, misguided beliefs. But theyloveyou. They wouldn’t give you such a hard time about your life if they didn’t. Take it from me, man: if someone doesn’t love you, they’re just not there. Leah and Jeremy don’t want to lose you any more than you want to lose them. I’m confident that it’s all going to work out.’

I cup my hands around his shoulders, looking him square in the eye. ‘And Austin, if who you are isn’tgood enough for them? Then they’re not good enough for you.’

‘Fuck, man, don’t make me cry,’ he says hoarsely, blinking fast.

A breath of laughter pushes out of me. He’s right; we’re in public. I back up a touch.

Austin offers me a tight-lipped smile. ‘You know, there’s someone at this party who hasn’t stopped talking about you for the past year.’

‘Someone other than you?’ I taunt.

His eyes narrow playfully. ‘Too soon, bro.’

I nod, smiling at the polished floor. ‘Sorry.’

‘You know who I’m talking about.Evie.’

The swarm of butterflies reawakens in my stomach, and I search his face for evidence that he’s telling the truth. ‘Really?’

‘She tries not to.’ His lips tug into a sad sort of smile. ‘I think she worries that she’ll upset me if she brings you up—or maybe that she’ll upset herself, I don’t know. Maybe both. But she can’t help mentioning you all the time, despite her best efforts. And take it from me; I know what longing looks like when I see it.’

My gaze drops, and I feel Austin’s eyes linger on me.

‘I want you to know, Kye,’ he says softly, ‘that seeing you happy will make me very, very happy—just in a different way to how I imagined. I truly mean that.’

I look back up at him, a rush of painful memories blending with some of the best of my life. ‘Thanks,’ I say. ‘And that goes both ways.’

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