of young Hollywood's finest studs. But she was probably the only twenty-three-year-old virgin in the business. This was partly by choice, because she didn't want to give herself away to just anyone, and part pure bad luck. Deep down inside of her, Arial still dreamed of having a true white wedding. What could possibly be more romantic than having her first intimate moment be with the man she'd spend the rest of her life with?
Her thoughts drifted back to Bryce. She couldn't help but be worried. The way he looked when he walked away from her was not something she'd seen for a long time — like he was hopeless. As much as she wanted to tell him everything would be okay, she also knew him better than to utter the words. Nor could she tell him he'd find someone better… or how she actually felt for him.
She'd been in love with him as soon as she was old enough to understand what those feelings were like. She was sixteen years old when that happened. Two things had gotten in her way from saying anything. The first being their five-year age difference, and the second being Katie. Arial doubted he'd take a confession from her heart that dated back to her teenage years seriously, and even if he did, the love he had for his ex would always get in the way.
****
Bryce Valentine flipped his cell phone over in his hands repeatedly. He measured the pros and cons of calling Katie again. Not that he wanted to come across as desperate, but there was so much about the break-up he didn't understand. She'd thrown away nine years of life with him overnight.
“You know why,” she had said when he asked her why she was leaving him. But he didn't know, not completely.
Things had been stale for the past few years, comfortable. He'd always figured that had something to do with being together for so long. Once all of the mysteries of a person were discovered, what else was there to keep things spicy? Not that he'd necessarily minded. The two had found ways to keep things interesting enough in their relationship to the point where he could overlook his overall sense of lacking. It bothered him all the same that he trusted his other co-stars, most particularly Arial, more than he did his own girlfriend. Deep down in his heart, he felt like something was missing between him and Katie, but the stubborn side of him did not want to give up his first love.
Katie was unlike anything he'd ever experienced. Before he'd become famous, girls did not notice him. He was the quiet theater geek in school. Friendly, but he kept to himself all the same. Katie was the opposite. She had spunk and passion, and when she wanted something, she went for it. And she had wanted him. Their relationship was like a powder keg lit with a fuse. It exploded instantly with the same chemistry and passion before fizzling out into the comfortable routine they'd been in for years. She'd even gone so far as to be surprised he wanted to be in a long-term committed relationship with her to begin with. He'd been so enamored with her when they first met, he couldn't imagine letting her go. Most Hollywood romances didn't last. Then again, he wasn't like most of the guys in the business. Screwing around wasn't something he fancied trying either. When he devoted himself to something, he gave it his all, and that's exactly what he had done in regard to her.
Hollywood could be fickle, but he'd been raised to have a good head on his shoulders. He also hadn't started acting until he was almost out of high school. For a while, he never thought he'd make it as an actor. Small parts here and there went into his savings before he hit it big. Three Wishes sent his career skyrocketing within a year. Being a young superstar made him perfect material for teen romance films. His chiseled abdomen didn't hurt either, of course. The movies were fun to make and he was easy to work with, which made casting directors want to seek him out all the more. Sprinkle in a few independent film projects, and he had a recipe for success, now that the show was over. Bryce was ready to show off the rest of his acting skills. What he wasn't ready for was doing it alone.