Secrets of My Hollywood Life #4: Paparazzi Princess Read Online Free PDF

could stay out here all night, but we should go inside if you want to catch the movie." We're seeing the new Mac Murdoch flick. He played my dad in Off-Key , a movie I made last year, and I never miss one of his films. Austin takes my sweaty hand in his and leads me toward the main entrance.
    The ArcLight lobby reminds me of Grand Central Station. There is a large "departure board" that lists fourteen or more movies playing in the auditoriums and in the Cinerama Dome (which is this geodesic-shaped theater they built in the 1960s). I'm immediately overtaken by the smell of caramel popcorn, which is a theater signature. The theater also has a snack area and a café/bar that serves meals like tamales with grilled shrimp in lobster cream sauce or Angus beef burgers. We head right to the concession stand and Austin gets us two sodas, Raisinets (for me), Milk Duds (for him), and a large popcorn.
    "How was your first day back to work?" Austin asks when we finally take our assigned seats in the theater.
    The smile that's been on my face since I first saw Austin slides right off as I tell him about taping the promo and how blindsided I felt. "I thought I was okay with the show going off the air, but when I saw everyone today, I lost it," I admit. "I can't believe we only have eight episodes left. I've been on that set every week since I was four. Do you have any idea what it feels like knowing your whole life is going to change in a matter of months and you can't do anything about it?"
    "I don't," Austin admits. He retracts the armrest (another cool ArcLight feature) so that I can lean on his shoulder. "I guess vacation is really over, huh?"
    "You can say that again." I sigh. "On vacation, the only pressing thing I had on my agenda was memorizing vocab words for the SATs, but the minute we touched down in L.A. everything changed. Everyone is hounding me to meet with Seth and find a new job. They've got me worried about making money and keeping a roof over everyone's head. And I am freaked out about that, I really am. But part of me just wants to spend some time mourning FA too."
    Austin tries to suppress a smile. "Burke, even if you can't find another job for a year, or three, I think your family will still have a roof over their heads."
    "I know that, and you know that, but Mom and Dad act like finding the next big thing is essential to our livelihood. Every time they bring it up, I get a lump in my throat. I guess I never thought about what my job at FA meant to the people around me."
    "You can't be so hard on yourself," Austin tells me. "Today was your first day back at work and you're overwhelmed. You'll figure this out. FA isn't going away tomorrow."
    I stare at the movie screen. They're playing one of those trivia games with questions about celebrities and one about me just flashed on the screen ('What is the name of Kaitlin Burke's character on Family Affair ?' Answer: Samantha Buchanan). "Austin, that show is my rock," I practically whisper. "I'm not ready to let it go."
    He kisses me. His lips taste salty from the popcorn. "I can be your rock," Austin says softly.
    I must have the best boyfriend in the world. What guy says things like that outside of a romantic comedy?
    "Thanks." I smile and dig into my bag. "I forgot. I got you a souvenir." I break out a royal blue T-shirt and ball cap that says Parrot Cay, which is the name of the resort where I stayed. It's not much, but my funds are low after Christmas. I got Austin this cool, framed, vintage New York City subway sign. He's always wanted one. It was listed on eBay for a hundred dollars, but I got into a bidding war with ICrackBax82 and wound up paying $450. Austin doesn't need to know. And, um, neither do Mom and Dad.
    But Austin, he got me something ten times better. It's this beautiful, thin white gold bangle bracelet that I'm wearing right now. Inside, he had engraved: Love, A.
    LOVE, A.
    L-O-V-E, A. Sigh.
    I still can't believe he's said those three little words to me