Page 86 of How to Kiss a Movie Star
What’s up next for the both of us?
Do we have any plans to work together in the future?
Most of the questions steer clear of my personal life—a requirement that was made clear to all participating journalists. But that didn’t stop them from asking aboutClaire’spersonal life. My favorite question:Was Claire disappointed when she realized I’d moved on with someone else?
Just before we break for lunch, a woman from LA Weekly asks me something no one else has thought to ask yet.
“Last question for you, Flint,” the journalist says. “Are we supposed to assume that the new relationship in your life has something to do with your move back to North Carolina?”
Joni steps forward—this is definitely a question that crosses into personal territory—but I lift a hand and motion her away. I’m okay answering this one.
“Yes and no,” I say. I look up and smile at Audrey, who’s standing just off to my left. “When I moved, I knew I was looking for something. More stability, more time with my family. But there was something else I wanted, too. I didn’t know what it was, really, only that I’d never found it in LA. And I didn’t find it until I met Audrey. We all need people to keep us grounded, you know? Who will remind us what’s really important. It’s easy to lose sight of that in this business. Our relationship is still new, but if I’m lucky, I hope that’s what she’ll be for me.”
There’s a long stretch of silence after my answer, and I squirm with sudden discomfort. “What?” I quickly joke. “Was that too much? Too personal? Nobody knows how to handle Flint Hawthorne being a little vulnerable?”
It’s Claire who responds. “It wasn’t too much, Flint,” she says softly, a hand on my arm. “It was perfect.”
If this really was just an act, if my feelings for Audrey really were fake, I might regret fooling Claire because there is real and genuine warmth in her eyes. It’s surprising to see, and so completely unexpected, I almost have whiplash. But then, she hasn’t really seemed like the same Claire today. It could just be that the pictures of me and Audrey—and then seeing Audrey here with me—accomplished their purpose. But I’m beginning to sense there’s something else to Claire’s change in behavior.
I lift my eyebrows in question, and Claire shrugs. “I’m happy for you,” she says, her tone low. “And I’m sorry—”
I lift a hand, cutting her off, and reach over to tug off her mic, then I do the same with mine. “Can we go ahead and cut the cameras?” I say, hoping someone in the room will listen.
Joni appears beside me and takes our mics, then ushers the LA Weekly lady and everyone else to the other side of the room.
“Thanks,” Claire says softly. “I’m still so new at this.”
“You’re doing fine,” I say gently.
She’s quiet for a beat before she looks up, eyes watery and a little red. “Flint, I’m sorry about all those things I said.” She takes a deep breath, hesitating the tiniest bit before she keeps going. “Simon just kept saying I needed to keep our names on everyone’s minds as much as possible. It was his idea for me to hint that we were still in a relationship. He said it would create exactly the kind of buzz the movie needs.”
“Wait, you’re working with Simon?”
She nods, wide-eyed. “I thought you knew. He called me right after you and I broke up.”
It takes me a moment to process what she’s telling me.
All this time, Simon has been playing both sides of the game, telling me one thing and telling Claire something else.
I lean back in my chair.
I should have known.
Honestly, I’m surprised I didn’t piece it together sooner.
“Simon can be very persuasive.” I breathe out a tired sigh. “I wish you’d told me, Claire.”
She nods. “I know. I should have. But Simon said I couldn’t trust you on this. He said that you—” She winces and shakes her head. “Well, never mind what he said. I shouldn’t have listened, and I’m sorry.”
“Let me guess. He said I’m stuck on my own high horse and can’t be trusted to know what my career really needs?”
“Something like that,” Claire says.
“Where is Simon anyway?” I ask, suddenly realizing that he hasn’t been around all morning. Normally, he would be.
Claire frowns. “He’ll be here after lunch.”
I nod, wondering how quickly Joni can draft up some official paperwork terminating my relationship with my publicist. It’s a decision I should have made a long time ago. I haven’t been on the same page with the guy in months. Knowing Joni, she already has the paperwork saved on her laptop just in case.
