He's the One (6 page)

She shrugged as if it wasn’t important to her. But as soon as Cory had shut the door he took her in his arms and hugged her. ‘I’m sorry, Liberty. Sorry for being an idiot and thinking you had a boyfriend, and sorry for not saying the right things when I saw Brooke.’

His body against hers; the delicious clean smell of him mixed with his spicy aftershave and the scent of sun cream. She wanted him so much, but he’d hurt her badly. She didn’t feel she could trust him, his life was too different from hers. Things would never work out for them.

Liberty pulled away. ‘Yeah, well, you really were an idiot, and you and Zara made me feel like shit. I don’t need that in my life or my daughter’s.’

‘I know, and I’m sorry. I fucked up. Please will you give me a second chance? I swear it won’t happen again.’

Cory sounded so heartfelt and looked so sincere that she felt her resistance weakening.

‘We have this connection between us … I know you feel it too. I’ve never felt like this about anyone else before,’ he told her.

‘Not about what’s her name … Tash? And Zara? How do I know I can trust you?’

‘Because, as I think you know, this is something different.’

From the living room Liberty could hear the sound of the TV. She should tell him to leave and never see him again. She should shut the door on him, and go back to watching TV, and getting up in the morning and going to work, and doing the same things over and over again. Or she could take a chance. She could end up getting hurt again. Really hurt. It was a risk. But Liberty knew she had to take it.

She hesitated then said quietly, ‘Okay. A second chance. So long as you understand that my daughter will always,
always
come first.’

She didn’t know if she was making the right decision, she only knew that she couldn’t be without Cory.

Chapter 5

A brilliant month followed when Liberty saw Cory every day and even managed to stay over with him several nights a week. It was like being in a dream, a wonderful, happy dream. And forming the perfect backdrop to their romance, summer had taken hold, with days of glorious sunshine and bright blue skies and nights that were warm enough for them to drink wine and have barbecues on the beach. Even completely caught up in the moment, Liberty still had the feeling that this was going to be the summer of her life, the one she would always look back on …

They were at that can’t-keep-their-hands-off-each-other stage, where they longed for each other, and whenever they could tumbled into Cory’s big double bed that creaked appallingly and gave them the giggles, or else made love on the battered leather sofa, slowly in the moonlight. And each time was more intense and brought them closer.

It was still early days but Liberty felt as if she had found her soulmate, someone she could be herself with. But … and there was a but … at the back of her
mind was always the nagging thought that this surely couldn’t last, that it was all too good to be true, that he would soon be gone. She felt that she had to keep back a part of herself and not entirely let down her guard. Cory would catch her looking wistful sometimes. He always asked her what was wrong and what she was thinking. She would make up an excuse; say she was worrying about never getting any acting work. Not entirely a lie, but not entirely the truth.

One Saturday night six weeks after their first meeting Cory met her after work. He seemed particularly keyed up and excited about something, but he wouldn’t tell her what it was about until they reached his flat. As soon as they were inside he raced into the kitchen and came back into the living room brandishing a bottle of champagne. ‘I’ll tell you once I’ve opened it. This moment deserves to be toasted, and remembered, because this moment is going to be a turning point, I just know it.’

She watched as he quickly ripped the gold foil from the bottle of Bollinger and expertly popped the cork. That was the thing about Cory – he constantly came out with declarations like that, which she couldn’t imagine any other man saying. He wore his heart on his sleeve, and there was an openness about him that Liberty found daily more irresistible. He handed her a glass of champagne.

‘Come on, Cory! Tell me now!’ she begged him, unable to bear the suspense any longer.

He grinned. ‘I’ve told my parents that I’m not going back to law school, that I’m staying in the UK and going to art school here. I’ve got an interview at Camberwell next week.’

‘Really? Are you sure?’ It was what she’d wanted, but
it seemed such a huge step for him. ‘And what about travelling? And going to Australia?’

‘I’ve done a load of travelling.’ He put his arms round her. ‘And I’m one hundred per cent certain about this. I’ve never been so certain of anything before. And there’s something else I have to say … and I don’t care if you think it’s too soon, and I’m being too over the top, I have to tell you this. I love you. What do you say to that, Liberty Evans?’ He sounded confident but she could see the anxiety in his eyes.

She didn’t even have to think about it. ‘I’d say that I love you too.’

It was an amazing, incredible moment. They drank champagne, made love in the creaky bed, held each other all night. Liberty woke up feeling slightly hungover but blissfully happy, and for the first time ever in her life she felt lucky.

At home there was more good news when Nina told Liberty that her agent had called and she had a casting in London that afternoon for a new perfume. It was a high-profile campaign, and last-minute because the model the company had originally chosen had pulled out. Liberty was so buoyed up with happiness about Cory that, instead of feeling paralysed with nerves as she had so many times in the past, she breezed into reception feeling confident and looking forward to showing the casting director what she could do. Cory loved her and she loved him! That was all that mattered.

‘Hi, I’m here to see Luke Jones for a casting, I’m Liberty Evans,’ she told the young man behind reception. There was a dark-haired man already standing there, drumming his fingers on the desk top impatiently. He glanced at Liberty and then seemed to do a double take.

‘So what are you?’ the man addressed her. ‘A model or an actress?’

She smiled back, not oblivious to the fact that he was very striking-looking, with a handsome, rugged face.

‘An actress who has to model.’ No need to tell him that she hadn’t acted in ages and that she currently waited tables.

He glanced at his watch. ‘I have a bit of time before my next meeting. The guy I was supposed to be seeing here is held up in traffic. How about grabbing a coffee?’

He was American, with possibly a Californian accent, she thought, and the watch he wore looked expensive.

‘I’m in the TV industry and know a fair bit about the acting world. You never know, it might be helpful to you.’

For a while now Liberty had recognised that it wasn’t simply talent that got you ahead in acting, it was who you knew as well. And she had no connections whatsoever. This looked like an ideal networking opportunity. The guy exuded an air of wealth and confidence.

‘Well, my casting is now and I guess it will only take about twenty minutes, if that. I could meet you afterwards?’ she said.

‘Sure, great idea. I’ll be waiting. I’m Zac, by the way.’ He reached out and they shook hands. All the while he was gazing at her, as if he liked what he saw very much. ‘And you’re Liberty?’ he continued. ‘Great name. It suits you.’

She was still smiling as she was called into the studio to meet the director and photographer. They did all the introductions and the director asked her to get into position in front of the white screen, opposite the camera.

She posed for a series of shots pulling a range of
expressions, dreamy, happy, pensive, sultry, all of which she found came naturally. She really felt a connection with the camera, and believed she could give the photographer and director exactly what they wanted.

‘Just a few more to go now,’ Dave the photographer called out. But suddenly Liberty was distracted by the door opening, and to her surprise Zac walked in.

‘Is it okay if I watch?’ he asked Luke.

‘No problem, Mr Keller,’ he replied, seeming in awe of the newcomer.

Liberty was surprised by Luke’s reaction. Zac really must be a big cheese in TV if he had that effect on people …

‘Okay give me your best “I know I’m sexy and I know you want me” face,’ Dave called out. Liberty tried to forget that Zac was standing there, looking at her intently, as she pouted, and narrowed her eyes, and shook back her hair. It was a little disconcerting having an audience but she knew she had done well this far and didn’t want to blow it.

Afterwards, when Luke told her they would be in touch later that day to let her know, for once she believed that he meant it. And, even better, that the news might well be positive.

‘Seriously? You want hot chocolate here? The place that serves the best coffee in London? I dream of this coffee when I’m in LA,’ Zac teased her while they waited to order at the cosy Italian café round the corner.

‘I’m too keyed up to drink coffee,’ she replied.

‘And I’m guessing you haven’t eaten anything? Go and sit down and I’ll bring everything over.’

She took a seat at one of the Formica-topped tables. It was funny, she hadn’t imagined that Zac would want
to go somewhere like this. She’d imagined him in a swanky hotel – say the Sanderson, which she had read about in
Grazia –
all striking architectural features and ultra-stylish furniture. Her seat here was pocked with cigarette burns.

‘Oh, wow! You didn’t have to get me anything to eat!’ she exclaimed as Zac put down a tray with a plate on it containing a pain au chocolat, a pain au raisin and an enormous chocolate-chip muffin. And he had asked for cream in the hot chocolate! If she ate all that she might have to give up on the perfume ad job, unless they wanted a plus size model.

He shrugged. ‘I didn’t know what you wanted, so I got a selection. Now tell me all about yourself. How long have you wanted to be an actor? What have you been in? Where do you live?’

He caught sight of Liberty’s slightly bemused expression at having so many questions put to her at once. ‘Sorry, it’s a terrible habit, comes of working in TV. I want to know everything instantly,’ he said.

She smiled and ran through an edited version of her life story, omitting to mention Brooke. ‘I haven’t done much,’ she finished up by saying.

‘Well, I can see a great future ahead of you. You really are a beautiful woman. Incredible eyes.’ He gazed directly at her. It was slightly unnerving, but also exciting to have attracted the attention of this man.

‘Who’s your agent?’ he asked.

Liberty reeled off Lizzie’s name.

‘Never heard of her, but that’s okay.’

He looked at the plate of uneaten pastries. Liberty had just nibbled the end of a pain au chocolat.

‘So how about we have a late lunch? I could push my meeting back further.’

For a moment she wondered if lunch was all he had
in mind, but maybe she was reading too much into his show of attention. Either way, she was longing to get back to Brighton and see Cory.

‘I’m really sorry but I have to get home.’

‘Husband waiting for you? Boyfriend?’

‘Boyfriend. I promised I’d see him tonight.’

‘Lucky guy,’ Zac replied, sounding regretful. He reached in his pocket and handed her his card. ‘I’m flying back to LA tomorrow morning, but who knows? Maybe I’ll see you there. I’ve a feeling I will.’

Chapter 6

Zac had been quite intense, Liberty thought afterwards as she dashed through Soho Square on her way to Oxford Circus tube. But very charismatic as well. The kind of man who was used to getting what he wanted, which was sort of sexy. But by the time she boarded the train at Victoria, she was only thinking of one man and that was Cory. For the hundredth time she wished she had a mobile phone so she could call him and tell him how it had gone. If she got the perfume ad that was the first thing she was going to treat herself to.

The phone rang almost as soon as she walked through the front door. It was Lizzie, telling her that she’d got the modelling job and that there was something else really exciting to tell her. Liberty wondered what on earth that could be when landing the modelling job was exciting enough.

‘I’ve had a call from Zac Keller, who was very impressed with you today.’

‘Oh?’ He hadn’t wasted any time then.

‘Do you realise who he is?’ Lizzie went on, excitement breaking through in her usual measured tones.

Blimey! If Lizzie sounded happy then it really must be significant. Her agent usually sounded supremely bored.

‘He’s only one of Hollywood’s hottest TV directors right now. Two Golden Globes under his belt for his last series. He wants me to send him your show reel. God, Liberty! Do you realise, this could be your big break? He absolutely raved about you. Went on about your spirit, and how there was this intriguing air of vulnerability about you. How you had the most amazing green eyes he had ever seen, the most radiant smile. How unspoiled and fresh you were. And on and on. I couldn’t get a word in edgeways!’

‘Wow!’ Liberty was taken aback by the interest and all the praise.

‘So sweetie, I’m getting that show reel off to him ASAP. And then who knows?’

What a difference a day could make, Liberty thought as she put down the phone. It was like going from 0 to 100 m.p.h. Out of nowhere there were so many possibilities ahead of her, real life-changing possibilities – though she decided not to tell anyone about Zac’s interest, in case it proved to be a lot of hot air. But she could tell them about landing the modelling job and the two grand fee Lizzie had mentioned. A celebration was definitely in order.

Everyone was thrilled by her news when she told them over dinner. Cory insisted on ordering a bottle of champagne, even though they were having an Indian and it didn’t exactly go with the spicy food.

‘To my beautiful model girlfriend!’ he declared, holding up his glass, and everyone toasted Liberty, pleased for her success.

‘Now that’s enough about my daughter, her head
will get too big. And she mustn’t get above herself – it’s her turn to take out the bin tonight. I’m not having any airs and graces,’ Nina teased. But Liberty knew how pleased her mum was for her.