“Memphis was the furthest away from home I’d ever been until I came out here for my first audition. Isn’t that crazy?”
“Not crazy at all.”
“Where are you from?”
He stopped to let some high school kids cross the street. They were carrying In & Out bags, some of them already eating fries as they walked back toward campus.
“Bakersfield.”
“That’s why you like country music!”
“Yep.”
He gently tapped the gas and went slowly toward the restaurant. The coast was clear now, but he knew from experience the students would just dart out into the street sometimes, being kids.
“So what got you to come here for an audition?” he asked as he guided the truck into the In & Out parking lot. The drive-thru line was busy, but the parking lot was even worse. Before she could answer his initial question, he asked, “You mind getting it to go? I know a nice, quiet spot just a couple of miles from here up in Runyon Canyon.”
“Perfect!” she said.
He got in line and it moved fast. While they waited, Riley answered, “My grandpa passed away and there wasn’t anything holding me there in Arkansas. He’d always told me I should follow my dreams and be in the movies. Like I said, he never had much. But he had a house that was paid for. Begged me to sell it and use the funds to come out here.”
Briggs wasn’t surprised to find her eyes damp when he looked at her, but she was smiling.
“And you did.”
She nodded. “I did.”
“He raised you?”
Riley nodded again.
Briggs was curious what had happened to her parents, but now wasn’t the time to ask. Hopefully, he’d learn everything about her. Because he wanted to see her every day for the rest of his life.
It felt weird to think that way. He wasn’t the type to just fall head over heels for someone he didn’t even know!
But he couldn’t help himself with Riley. There was just something about her that was impossible for him to resist.
They were almost up to the window when a group of high schoolers walking by stopped and one of them yelled, “That’s Riley Hartwell!”
“That’s freaking her!” another said as he pulled out his cell.
Now, the six kids all had their phones out, taking pictures and probably live-streaming as they surrounded the truck.
“Oh my gosh. I’m sorry,” Riley said. “I didn’t think they’d recognize me in here! I shouldn’t have rolled my window down earlier.”
“Riley!” one of the girls screamed. “Will you take a selfie with me?”
“Me, too!” one of the boys pleaded.
She looked over at Briggs.
“Just tell me what you want, I’ll order, and then we can meet up where the drive comes out.”
“You’re the best,” she said as she hopped out of the passenger seat.
“But Riley?”
She looked back in through the open window.