Lucky Star: A Hollywood Love Story by Rebecca Norinne Caudill Read Free Book Online Page B

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    “Okay. Yeah, that sounds great. And thanks Julie, you made this happen.”
    “I did no such thing. All I did was make a few phone calls. This is all you, really. But hey, if you want to remember this come Christmas, Chanel No. 5 is my favorite.”
    I heard the click that signaled the end of our call, Julie having hung up before I could say goodbye. I stared down at the blank screen in my hand, shell-shocked. Like I’d said to her just a few seconds ago, I didn’t want to get my hopes up … but damn. Landing this part would be huge! It would literally change my life.
    When I walked back into the living room, my mom was cozied up in my dad’s lap, her head resting against his shoulder. “Hey pumpkin,” she said, sitting up. My parents, despite their vastly different upbringings and personalities, had always been tactile and loving toward one another. As a teenager, it had embarrassed me when they’d hold hands or kiss in front of my friends or teammates, but now that I was contemplating a future with Sarah, I was thankful for their positive example.
    I shook my head to clear my mind and smiled back. “So, I’ve got news.”
    Mom slid off my dad’s lap and when walked away he swatted her ass. She let out a playful yelp and turned to scold him. “Keep your hands to yourself, mister.”
    “I could, but why would I want to?”
    “Ahem,” I coughed into my hand. As much as I appreciated of the fact that my parents obviously still loved one another, I didn’t need to see the blatant evidence staring me in the face.
    “Son, you’ll meet someone someday and then you’ll understand then,” my dad said, grinning.
    This was what I’d traveled all this way for. This conversation, right here, right now.
    “Actually, that’s what I want to talk to you about.”
    “Oooh,” my mom cooed. “Tell me all about her.” She sat forward in her chair, her hands clasped in eagerness.
    “The truth is you already know her.”
    Mom’s eyes darted to my dad and then back to me. I couldn’t make out what that shared look meant and before I could ask, she posed a question of her own. “We do?”
    “Yeah.” I rubbed sweaty palms down the front of my jeans. “The thing is, I’ve fallen in love with Sarah.”
    My dad’s shoulders relaxed – I hadn’t even realized they’d gone tense until I watched them soften – and a smile broke out across my mom’s face. “Well, that’s wonderful dear. Sarah’s a lovely woman.”
    “She is,” I agreed. “And the thing is … at some point – not today, not next week, and maybe not even months from now, but someday definitely – I want to ask her to marry me.”
    “Cameron …” Mom stood and, staring at me with happy tears in her eyes, sniffed and exhaled. “Well, that’s magnificent is what it is. Patrick, tell him how wonderful this is.”
    My dad rose from his chair and clasped my hand in a firm shake and then pulled me in for the manly version of a hug. “It’s wonderful news son. She’ll make you a fine bride.”
    I moved out of his embrace and let my mom fold me into her arms. When she broke away, she glanced at me with confusion. “But why didn’t you bring her with you?”
    “So, that’s the thing,” I stammered. “We’re not um … you see … um …”
    “Spit it out, son” my dad guffawed.
    I took a deep breath. “The thing is, we’re not actually together. I did something stupid and then I made things worse by behaving like a huge asshole, but I want to make it right.”
    My mother’s smile fell and my dad shook his head. “Son, I hate to rain on your parade, but a proposal of marriage might not be the best way to go about doing that.”
    “I know,” I assured him. “Like I said … someday. Which is why I’m here. I was hoping I could take Grandma Edith’s ring back to L.A. with me.”
    My parents shared another quick look. “Cameron,” my mom intoned. “That ring’s yours, to be given to the woman you someday marry. I would