Page 45 of Begrudgingly Yours
Holy shit. As soon as the words come out, there’s a lightbulb going off in my head. The blond hair, the perfect-set eyes, the widow’s peak. He kind of looks like…
“Cordelia Monaghan.”
Dax nods. “Yes. She’s my mother.”
“I’m your new pack mate, that’s an actor, and you didn’t think this was important to tell me?” I say in disbelief, but I endup smiling becausewow. How didn’t I fucking know that? He looks just like her. AndMonaghan.
“No one else knows but you and Everett,” Dax admits.
Everett agrees, “Yeah, he doesn’t lead with it. It took him about six months to tell me.”
I falter slightly. “Wait… I’ve followed her career for a long time. I had no idea she had a family.”
Dax smiles proudly. “The beauty of a big pack. My non-famous parents were able to keep us out of the limelight. If there was paparazzi, we’d go one way with two parents while they stayed behind. It’s always been that way.”
“What about your other mom and dad, what do they do?”
“Oh, my mom’s a surgeon and my dad is a ghostwriter.”
My jaw nearly drops. “And you’re studying to be a physical therapist.”
Dax beams. “Definitely. My mother always wanted me to go into acting, though, because I have ‘the bone structure for television,’ but it’s not my thing. But hey, you’re an actor! I bet you guys will have a lot to talk about.”
I think again about Thanksgiving, wondering what it would be like to be surrounded by a big loving family during the holidays instead of being alone in my dorm room.
The last few years I’ve been on my own. Not that the holidays were much fun before that. In high school, I’d go over to Harland or Shiloh’s house. Their families were best friends so they were always together, and I always tagged along.
The idea of being a part of a unit, of being somewhere Ibelonginstead of feeling like an intruder, is too good to give up.
“So… Thanksgiving. What day were you thinking of heading over?”
Dax grin widens. “You want to go? Are you sure? If you have plans with your family, I understand.”
I shake my head. “It’s just my dad and he’s analcoholic. I haven’t seen him in years. I sincerely want to meet your family.”
I notice that both of them stay neutral in light of my minor confession, which I appreciate. Dax just smiles positively like usual. “There’s always a seat for you. I haven’t told them yet that I found my pack officially, but they’re going to love you.”
The idea of them loving or caring for me makes me feel a bit shy, but I just nod, hoping my embarrassment isn’t showing on my face.
Before I can respond, Dax continues. “And you’ll get to meet my sister.”
I wince, thinking about the sore subject that is Nicole Monaghan.
Everett tries to contain his chuckle, and Dax looks at me with realization. “Or you already know her, considering you’re in the same major. I keep forgetting you’re in that Shakespeare class.”
“Yeah, I know her,” I say as graciously as possible.
They both give me curious looks, like they can tell there’s more to it than that, but before they can comment on it, the waiter is back and asking about entrees.
“Buckle up, Joe,” he tells the waiter just before he practically orders the whole menu.
TWENTY-THREE
Playing: Come Back to Earth by Mac Miller
Wednesday is probablythe toughest day of the week for me. I have an 8 am Scene Analysis class that kicks my ass. The professor is a hardass, and despite the fact that you’re analyzing scenes that are open for interpretation, she always thinks her version is the correct one. I’m not sure how she became a professor to begin with, especially not for a subject that demandscreativity.
Then I have an improv class. I’m definitely the kind of actor that can work both on the fly and with a script, but it uses up a lot of creative energy. I can be humble and admit that I’m definitely not the best in the class because it takes me a little bit longer to think of something good. And that’s okay but sometimes other students can be judgemental.Especiallyother acting majors. I don’t know what it is about us actors, but we tend to be dramatic even off set.
