Accidental Romance

by Melanie Brown

  Accidental Romance

  By

  Melanie Brown

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One - The Accidental Romance

  Chapter Two - The Accidental Affair

  Chapter Three - The Accidental Model

  Chapter Four - The Accidental Daughter

  Chapter Five - The Accidental Star

  The Accidental Romance

  By Melanie Brown

  Copyright 2012, 2017 by Melanie Brown

  Published by DopplerPress

  A division of Janglewood LLC

  Copy Editor Tom Peashey

  Editor Joyce Melton

  Publisher Joyce Melton

  First Kindle edition May 2017

  Cover Image Copyright: ginasanders / 123RF Stock Photo

  Cover typography by Joyce Melton

  Accidental Romance

  By

  Melanie Brown

  Copyright © 2012-2017

  Chapter One - The Accidental Romance

  I mentally slapped myself for feeling both nervous and giddy about meeting Nathan Adams. He’s currently the hottest item in Hollywood who at twenty-five already had lead roles in six major films. To me, he was still “Porky” Adams, my fellow nerd gaming buddy from before high school in Abilene, Texas, who I used to live next door to. I’d seen his movies and he definitely isn’t porky any more.

  As I approached his table at the outdoor restaurant, he was signing a magazine cover with his picture on it for a couple of gushing giggling girls. I took a deep breath and swallowed as I approached him. This was a job interview after all. It occurred to me at this last minute that I probably should have gotten a haircut.

  Nathan smiled, stood and held out his hand as I arrived at his table. “Bobby Johnson. My God. I haven’t seen you since graduation! How the hell are you, bro?” He took my hand in a firm, but not crushing grip and then let go. He pointed at the chair across from him. “Please sit down.”

  As I sat I said, “Nathan! You don’t look anything like that ol’ scruffy nerf herder that I remember from school.”

  Nathan indicated to a waiter to bring another drink to the table. He smiled with even white teeth. “I’m not scruffy! But yeah, bro. I do work out a bit. But look at you; still a skinny kid who looks perpetually fifteen in a bad need of a hair cut! I’d bet that to this day, my dad still thinks you’re a girl.”

  I smiled weakly and said, “Gee, thanks Nate.”

  He laughed and said, “Hey, what are friends for, right?” He looked at the traffic going by for a minute, and then said, “Well, enough small talk. Let’s get down to business; shall we?”

  “Sure, Nate. That’s why I’m here.” I paused a second and said, “You don’t mind if I call you ‘Nate’?”

  He gave me an odd look before answering and said, “Hey, we’re pals, bro. Just don’t call me ‘that pusillanimous lying douche-bag’ that my girlfriend has started calling me.”

  I looked at him curiously and asked, “You’re dating Sharon Swanson, right? She seems pretty nice to me.” Sharon Swanson was one of, if not the top female recording artist for the past two years with her last two albums going multi-platinum. She has long, thick brunette hair that cascades past her shoulders, legs that go all the way up and such beauty that your balls ache just to look at her. Nate and she have been an “item” for the past six months.

  Nate laughed humorlessly and said, “Don’t believe everything you read, bro. I’m on the verge of dumping that bitch. She’s demanding, expensive and always accusing me of cheating on her…”

  “Do you?” I interrupted.

  Nathan looked shocked and said, “Are you kidding? She’s gorgeous, has an out-of-this-world body and is a wild animal in bed. So no. No way, bro, would I jeopardize getting to fuck that. But she thinks I would. She’s insanely jealous and, I’ve discovered, she’s just an all-round bitch. Yeah, she’s beautiful and a great fuck, but bro let me tell ya, she’s become a royal pain in the ass. But my agent insists I hang on to her until after the Academy Awards — says it’ll make me look bad if I dump her now.”

  I just sat there dumbfounded. I really wasn’t expecting to hear such a revelation. I said, “Your agent is running your sex life? You’re paying him, right?”

  Nate looked down at the marbled floor, smiled weakly and as he looked back up at me said, “Yeah, well, he keeps tight control on my publicity, and he excels at what he does.” He shrugged and continued, “Hell, bro. He got me this far.”

  I sat there in the awkward silence for a few moments. “So, what exactly is this job? My mom heard about it from your mom, but she was little sketchy about the details.”

  Fiddling with his napkin, Nathan said, “Yeah, well. It isn’t much of a job really. I mean you’ll get paid. But there’s no skill involved. Basically, it’s house-sitting. Next month I’ll be in Europe for about ten months shooting my next movie, and I didn’t want to just leave my house empty all that time. Even in my neighborhood, crime is up these days.”

  I relaxed a little and said, “House-sitting? I think I could handle that. Would I just dust and mow the lawn?”

  Nathan chucked and said, “You’d just live there bro, like it was your house. I don’t have a mansion, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost inside or anything. I mean, it’s a nice house but it’s not like that Branson Mahoney’s house. That house is huge and it still doesn’t hold all of his ego.” Branson Mahoney was one of Nate’s rivals in both careers and girlfriends.

  I said, “I’m grateful for your consideration. So far, my only job has been pizza delivery, and I never got my Comp Sci degree. So, why me? Out of all the hungry people in Los Angeles, why me?”

  Nathan motioned for me to lean in close. He leaned in, his lips close to my ear and he whispered, “Your mother begged me. Said she can’t take another day of you living in the basement.” He smiled as he leaned back and said, “And here we are.”

  I felt a tinge of being pissed at my mom and frowned. “When do I start?”

  Nate started to stand up and said, “Let’s go to your hotel and get your shit. You can move in today, bro.”

  * * *

  “Wow, this is nice!” I said sincerely as we entered Nathan’s home.

  “Better than your parent’s basement?” Nate asked looking serious.

  I gave him a crooked smile. “A little. Depends on how good your cable is.”

  Nate grinned and said, “I don’t think you’ll have any issues in that area.” He spread his arms wide and continued, “This is the living room. Through that door is the kitchen. Bed rooms upstairs, pool in the back.”

  I plopped down on the white leather couch. “Such a modest little shanty. I don’t see how you get by.”

  Nathan shrugged. “You get used to it.”

  I looked around the large room, decorated with expensive objects, one wall covered with the biggest television I’ve ever seen, an expensive sound system with speakers routed throughout the house and its own bar in the corner. I gave a low whistle. “All this from just reading words written by someone smarter than you. Pretty amazing.”

  Nathan let out an embarrassed laugh.“I haven’t officially hired you yet, so you better watch it. But you know, bro? If someone wants to pay me to read someone else’s words, who am I to tell them no. Besides, acting and not looking like you’re acting, is a lot harder than it looks.”

  “Just giving you a hard time, Nate,” I said. “I think it’s cool. I wish I could afford all this, and women, booze, cars, travel. You know I dabble in writing? Maybe you could help me pitch a few script ideas?”

  A pained look flashed across Nathan’s face. With a bit of annoyance in his voice he said, “Sure, bro. I’ll let you meet my agent. You can br
ing it up with him.”

  “You get that a lot do you?” I asked.

  With a smirk, he gave me a few quick nods.

  I shrugged. “Sorry.”

  Standing back up, Nathan said, “Maybe you can write a script for me while I’m off in Europe for ten months shooting my next mega-hit. Let me show you the guest room so you can get settled in.”

  * * *

  The guest room was quite nice. Much better than the best hotel room I’d ever stayed at. Nathan had some business to attend to, so he’d left and I was alone in the house. I looked out the window of my room down to the tree rimmed spacious yard. I shook my head in wonder, amazed at how very different the lives of two kids who grew up as next door neighbors could become. And amazed at how fate had brought us both together.

  As I was unpacking my stuff and putting my clothes away, my cell phone rang. On the display, it showed that the call was from my mom. I answered it and said, “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”

  “Bobby!” Mom exclaimed. “How was your trip? Is everything okay? Have you met with Nathan yet?”

  I sat down on the bed and said, “Yeah, the trip was great. I still don’t like flying though. And yes, I met Nathan. I’m in his house right now.”

  In my mind’s eye, I could see my mom’s eyes go wide as she said, “You are? Did you get the job? How is Nathan? Is he still the same old Nathan or has he gotten big headed?”

  “Yes, I got the job,” I said. “He’s letting me stay here until he leaves so he can show me around the house and let me get used to it before he leaves me alone for ten months. Lucky bastard gets to go to Europe for almost a year.”

  “Watch your language, dear,” said Mom.

  “Sorry, Mom,” I said sheepishly. “I am twenty-five though. Anyway, yeah, Nate’s cool. He has a really nice house. Oh, and thanks for putting in a good word for me with Nate.”

  “What are mom’s for, right?” said Mom. “You really needed to get out of the house.”

  “To go hang out in a different house?” I asked.

  “You know what I mean,” Mom said with hint of irritation. “Is Nathan going to take you to some Hollywood parties?”

  I laughed and said, “Mom, I’m his house sitter, not his new party buddy. If I was dating Sharon Swanson, I’d probably ignore me too.”

  “You like that little tart?” Mom asked. “Nathan can do better than her.”

  I laughed again and said, “I think Nate might agree with you on that, Mom.”

  Mom said, “Well, hon. I need to go. Your father and I are going out for dinner and then to see Nathan’s latest movie.”

  “Going on a date?” I teased. “You two crazy kids be sure to use protection.”

  “Bobby!”

  “Bye Mom…”

  * * *

  The next couple of days were relaxing, easy days. Nathan, being an actor between gigs didn’t have to be at an office or some such, so in between getting familiar with his house, which would be my home for ten months or so, we’d tool around L.A. going to his favorite spots for lunch and dinner and even his favorite video game store. Apparently, once a geek, always a geek.

  At several places that we went to, I’d notice some folks looking at us funny. Maybe they were just surprised to see a celebrity.

  It was day three at Nathan’s pad and just past ten o’clock in the morning when Nathan’s loud talking forced me awake and I climbed out of bed. I’d stayed up too late watching some movie on cable. I stepped out of my room in time to almost run into Nathan as he walked past again speaking loudly, cell phone to his ear. He turned to me and said, “Coffee in the kitchen, bro if you want some.” He was fully dressed in slacks, pressed shirt and tie. I just stood there looking over the balcony in my over-sized t-shirt that I’d been using to sleep in. My just-woke-up hair drooped over my eyes. Note to self, get a haircut.

  As he hurried back down the stairs, he was saying into his phone, “… no Tony. I told you I haven’t seen the tabloids this morning. It’s only a little past ten so I haven’t had a chance to get out of the house yet. What? Tony, of course I haven’t broken up with Sharon yet. Like you suggested, I’m waiting until after the awards… What? Well that’s just crazy… No, Tony, I swear I haven’t been with a woman since Sharon stormed off the set of her music video because I was chatting with that female grip. You gotta believe me, bro… Okay, lunch at one. No problem, bro. Bye-bye.”

  From the balcony overlooking the living room, I called down to Nathan, “Can I ask what that was about. I couldn’t help but hear.”

  Nathan laughed as he called back up to me, “That was Tony, my agent. Those stupid gossip rags are at it again, trying to make my life miserable. Oh, you’re on your own today, bro. I have to meet Tony and the producers to go over some script changes. There’s food in the fridge.”

  I waved and as he turned to walk to the front door, there came a sudden pounding on the door. Nathan said, “Aww, shit.” He opened the door and there stood Sharon Swanson, looking quite gorgeous in a short red dress, her brunette hair tousled about her shoulders. She was holding some papers in her hand. Nathan said, “Babe! It’s great to…”

  Slap!

  Sharon struck Nathan solidly with the palm of her free hand. Waving the papers in her other hand, Sharon shouted, “You fucking asshole! You lying sack of shit! You worthless two-timing scum-bag liar! What is the meaning of this?!” She shoved what looked like tabloid newspapers into Nathan’s hands.

  Looking confused and rubbing his cheek, Nathan said, “What’s the meaning of what, babe?”

  “Oh, like you don’t know!” screamed Sharon. “Don’t act stupid with me! I have proof this time!” She held up one of the tabloids. I couldn’t read it from where I was watching the spectacle unfold below me. Running her finger along the headline as she spoke, she yelled, “Nathan Adams seen at L.A. hotspots with mysterious blonde! And they have pictures!”

  Looking even more confused and flustered, Nathan said, “But babe! That’s not a woman!”

  Her eyes blazing, she said through clenched teeth, “Bullshit!” Dropping the first one to the floor, she held up another tabloid and said, “Not a woman? Then why are you kissing her! Look you douche bag, here’s a picture as plain as day!”

  At that moment, she looked up and that’s when she saw me looking down from the balcony. “Oh my God!” she shouted. “She’s here? She’s sleeping with you? You fucking bastard!”

  Whack!

  I could feel the sting of that slap to Nate’s face from where I stood upstairs and winced. She pointed at me and screamed, “You bitch! Enjoy your worthless two-timing boyfriend, you slut! He’s not even that good of a fuck.” She then turned back to Nate and hissed, “You’re going to pay, asshole. Oh, you’re going to pay!” She then spun on her heel and stormed back to her silver Beemer convertible and roared off.

  I ran down the stairs saying, “Crap, Nate! She slapped you, and called me a bitch. What the hell was all that about?”

  Rubbing his still red cheek, Nathan shook his head and said, “Look at those shit rags. They’re claiming I was cheating on Sharon. With you, Bobby. Bro, they think you’re a woman. Remember when I whispered in your ear? From the angle in the picture, it looks as though I’m kissing you, bro. I’ll have to contact my lawyer.”

  “That’s insane! How could they think I’m a woman?”

  Nathan looked at me sideways and said, “Remember, bro? My dad still thinks you’re a girl.”

  “Well, I’m not!” I protested. “Do you want me to talk to Sharon? Straighten things out?”

  Nathan shook his head and said, “She’ll kill you before you could get close enough to talk.”

  I threw my arms up and exclaimed, “We have to do something! I can’t have people thinking I’m your girlfriend!”

  Nathan’s phone rang and we both jumped. Nate picked up the receiver and said somewhat harshly, “Yeah, what?... Oh! Hi Tony. Yeah, Sharon was just here… You did? Why? We need to meet with the producers on this�
�� Yeah, yeah. Say what? My new girlfriend is causing quite a buzz?... I don’t think that’s a good idea… Okay, Okay. I’ll be right there… Yeah, yeah. Her, I mean him too.”

  Looking deeply annoyed, Nathan said, “Tony wants to see me. Get dressed, bro. He wants to see you too. I suggest you wear pants.”

  “Me? I didn’t do anything!” I whined.

  Nathan laughed. “He’s not the principal! He just wants to talk to you!”

  * * *

  “This is nice!” I slid my hand across the leather interior of Nathan’s Bugatti Veyron.

  Nate looked at my finger and frowned. “Don’t get fingerprints on the interior, okay? Don’t look at me that way. I told Sharon the same thing.”

  “I still have that orange Neon I had back in high school,” I said feeling all one thousand horses as Nathan accelerated across the intersection after the light changed.

  Nate laughed and said, “See? You even own a girl’s car!”

  I scowled at Nate. “It’s not a girl’s car!”

  “The only thing that would be more girlie would be if it was pink instead of orange!” Nathan grinned at me as he opened up the throttle as we entered the on ramp to the freeway.

  “I’m not talking to you.” I picked up one of the tabloids Sharon had left at Nathan’s house.

  Nate Laughed again. “That’s just what a girl would say!”

  I folded the tabloid newspaper and whacked Nate on the head with it and said, “Shut up already!”

  “Just like a …” Nate started to say as I raised the newspaper again. He didn’t finish what he was about to say, but just grinned as he concentrated on weaving through the traffic.

  I started looking through the tabloids and gasped. From the photography and the copy on the articles, if I didn’t know they were pictures of me, I’d be believing that Nathan was cheating on Sharon Swanson with some cute blonde chick.