Twist of Fate by Louise, Tia (free ebook reader for ipad .txt) 📗

“Oh, yeah? What’s it called?”

His nose curls. “Mighty Thunder. Stock car racers who solve crimes. Sounds right up your alley.”

I don’t know what the hell that means, but like I told Lorraine, I’m up for anything that’ll get my foot in the door. “Send me the link. I’ll be back.”

Grabbing my keys, I take off towards West Hollywood. Every open audition requires a résumé and headshots. The first one I see has the prices on the door, which can’t be good.

“Five hundred dollars?” Shit, that’s more than my car note.

I’m determined to find something cheaper. Walking down the sidewalk, it’s like my roommate said, a line of photographers all competing with each other.

“Ultimate Sensations.” I pause, looking at the black and white portraits inside. A yellow flier on the door says Photographer’s special: $150 headshots plus additional poses.

“Can’t beat that.” A bell rings as I open the door and head inside.

Franco Romano greets me as the photographer and owner. He seems like a good guy, friendly and engaging. He has chairs and sofas, ramps and footballs—every kind of prop and costume you can imagine, from gangster to Roman gladiator, even cowboy gear.

“I’d like to take one in that.” Unforgiven was one of my favorite movies as a kid.

“Of course. Any two outfits you want.”

I sign off on the paperwork. “It says here ‘headshots and three additional poses.’”

“Two wardrobe changes and one set of nudes.”

“Nudes?” My chin pulls back. “Why the hell would I want nudes?”

He exhales dramatically as if I’m an idiot. “Casting directors want to see the whole package. If they’re looking for a European role, most men are uncut. If you’re American, it’s assumed you are. It saves time and money.”

It takes me a minute to consider this. “Okay.”

I’m not embarrassed to take nude photos. I can always toss them if I don’t need them. Or shred them first, I guess. Or send them to Daisy. The thought makes me chuckle, then it makes me hard when I remember her on her knees in front of me, sucking me off.

Damn, that was hot.

“All set?” Franco calls from the other room.

“Sure, come on in.” I’m standing with only a towel around my waist, and he’s carrying a camera and a football.

“Let’s start with this.” He hands it to me. “Lift it back and behind your shoulder, like you’re making a long pass.”

I know what he wants. Tossing the towel aside, I square up my feet and strike the classic pose, holding my stomach in and flexing my muscles. It doesn’t hurt that memory of Daisy blowing my mind has me standing at attention.

“Ah, yes. You have a very appealing cock.” Franco sounds a little too enthusiastic, but whatever. Gay guys don’t bother me. “Let’s move to the settee. Put one knee up and look over your shoulder.”

Two hours later, I leave the studio with a full packet of photographs. I have headshots, mafia-style, westerns, and quite a few different nude poses, which I’ll stash someplace safe.

The quality is very good, and I’m feeling great about my bargain find. It feels like a good omen for my audition in the morning.

“You played with your brother?” Luis catches the pass as we stand around the pool throwing a football back and forth.

“Yeah, he’s only a year older than me, so we had three years on the team together.”

“I wish I had a brother. It’s just Mama and me.” He throws the ball to me, and I catch it easily.

“You’ve got a good arm. You should see if they have any community teams or anything. Maybe go down to the Y.” I toss it back to him.

“Mama says we can’t afford it. She has to work, and I don’t have a ride.”

“You got a bike?”

He shakes his little head, throwing the ball to me again, and I think about it. “I could give you a ride if you need it. Maybe we could check out the listings and see if anybody’s selling a bike cheap.”

His black eyes widen, and he smiles, showing off two big front teeth. “Hey, thanks, Mister!”

“Call me Scout.”

“Mr. Scout!”

“It’s no problem if I’m around.” Chuckling I pull back to throw the ball to him again when a young woman with long, glossy brown hair steps out onto the balcony.

“Dinner time, Lucho.”

The little boy hops on one foot and makes a beeline up the stairs. With his description of dinner, I can’t say I blame him. I’m slowly climbing the stairs behind him as he excitedly fills his mother in on our conversation.

“Mr. Scout said they probably have football teams in the park or at the Y. He said he’d give me a ride so I could play. That’s okay, huh, Mama?”

“I don’t know. Who is Mr. Scout?” His mother turns her dark eyes on me, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

“Hi, sorry. I just moved into 213 a few weeks ago.”

Her eyes flicker across the way then back to me. “Would you like to join us for dinner?”

“Sure.” I’ve been living on frozen pizza and hot pockets for so long, it’s an easy answer. “If there’s enough, I mean.”

“We always have leftovers.”

She holds the door, and I follow her inside. Their apartment is the exact layout of ours, but it has more of a homey feel with photos of family members and colorful paintings on the wall. I hadn’t really considered some people would live here permanently, and it makes me miss my gran.

“What do you do, Ms.…”

“Garcia.” She goes to the kitchen and takes down another plate. “I’m a nurse. I work at the urgent care clinic in Reseda.”

“I’m still learning my way around.” I smile, taking the plate, and she gives me a double-blink.

“I-It’s about twenty minutes out the Valley Glen.” Her slight stammer is reassuring.

At least I’ve still got it. I swear I was starting to wonder.

“Let me guess.” She recovers fast, giving me a bright white smile as well. “You’re an aspiring actor.”

“Is it that obvious?” I take