Page 52 of Crushing On My Brothers BFF

“So far, nobody has noticed to care enough,” I go on. “You’re stealing the show. This could be a good way to kick-start your film career.”

She looks down at her plate, sighing.

“What’s wrong with that?” I ask. “Use your viral moment. Maybe create some social media channels. Ride the wave.”

“Wouldn’t that be a bit… I don’t know, obvious?”

“Obvious?” I say. “What does that even mean?”

She shakes her head and bites her lip. We’re supposed to be eating dinner, but she’s filling my mind with ideas to eat something else. “It’s something one of my professors says, but she can be a bit pretentious. She’d probably give me crap if I did that.”

“My business professor told me dropping out would be the worst thing I ever did,” I say. “He said every successful outdoor company that would exist always existed. Sometimes, you have to listen toyou.”

“I think it’s a good idea,” she murmurs, “but I’d only do it when I had something worth showing. It’s not like I’ve got any feature films yet or even short films. Maybe this project about Mom and Dad, but it’s so personal. I’m not sure Paul would want it out there.”

“It’s your choice,” I tell her. “If not, you’ll always have a place with Free Everywhere.”

She flinches, and then I remember why. I’m a jackass. It’s what Paul said about how she wants to earn her place.

“Ifyour work is good enough,” I add.

“Really?” she says.

“Honestly, Sophie, Paul told me how much it means to you to earn your spot. So if it means firing your ass, yes, really.”

She laughs. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

“I wish everybody I fired had that attitude,” I say.

“It must be hard,” she says quietly, “having to fire people and having so much responsibility. Is it?”

“Hard to complain when you’ve got a bank account like mine,” I reply.

“You said that in an interview once. The journalist asked basically the same question I just did. You made light of it, like you did just now, but I could see there was more there. I’m right, aren’t I?”

“Maybe you are,” I say, “but it’s not right for a man in my position to complain.”

“With me, though, you can be honest, always.”

I look into her accepting eyes. She’s everything I never had the imagination to dream of. In that gray, dreary world, I never could’ve envisioned so much light.

“I’m never just me,” I tell her. “Everybody I interact with, I have power over, a career, money, position. Even if I don’t feel like that, it’s in the way they look at me. Either they think I’m going to be some arrogant douche, or they’re wondering if I’m soft enough for them to get something out of me. I’m never myself except with Paul. I was myself with him.”

“Was,” she repeats. “Not anymore?”

I sigh. “Not since us.”

“You can be yourself with me, too,” she says. “I remember before the company, before all the riches. I remember you and Paul building the business. I remember all of it. I don’t want you because you’re a CEO. I want you because you’re Kaleb, that’s all. Because you’re my… my date.”

She smiles shakily. She paused there, making me wonder what she was going to say. Herlove. Herboyfriend. Herfuture husband.

We keep eating, not feeling the need to talk. I could watch her eat all day, watchherwatch paint dry. Being close to her fires me up more than a multimillion-dollar deal.

“Where do you see yourself in ten years?” I ask.

She bursts out laughing. “Okay, that’s random. It’s like a job interview question.”

“I’m curious,” I say.

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