My Best Friend

A friends-to-lovers romantic comedy!

Persephone

Life is a box of chocolates!

Well, if so, mine have gone thoroughly stale.  In fact, they went on the turn over a decade ago, on the night I gave my virginity and my heart to my best friend, Henry Morgan. The very next day, the boy took everything with him to Hollywood, where he is living it up as one of the world’s most celebrated Oscar-winning actors.

I should have ditched that box ages ago. 

But I can’t.

Not while Henry still sits in there, even if only from a distance.

Henry

If life is a box of chocolates, then mine has been an awesome collection!  I’ve transformed from the nerd targeted by bullies to an Oscar-winner. 

There’s just one problem – my best friend, Persephone Hill.

At seven years old, the girl saved my life by sharing a comic and a handshake. Ever since I’ve been hopelessly devoted to her.

Back when we were closer than close, I was too afraid to tell her how I really felt.  So, friendship is where I’ve stayed.

Yes, life has been a box of chocolates, only the best flavour has been missing.

But that’s about to change. I’m finally going to claim Persephone as mine.

Available to download from Amazon (including KU) today!

Sample:

“And now, a special treat for you all! Please welcome the recent winner of the coveted Oscar for Best Actor, for his role in Broken Bridges; a Hollywood hero with one of the best reputations in show business, Mr Henry Morgan!”

The shiny, bright studio erupts into deafening cheers and wolf whistles as the audience claps on stage a man who regularly features in many a lady’s romantic, sometimes saucy, daydreams.  The man oozes sex appeal and emits confidence no mortal guy could ever hope to achieve. But then, Henry Morgan is one of the most sought-after actors in the industry.  At nearly thirty years old, he is entering his prime and already breaking hearts with his stellar performances in countless blockbuster sell-outs.  He’s won so many awards he would need to add an extension onto his multi-million-dollar pad just to house them all in one place.

Looking at his cool, calm, and relaxed saunter onto the stage right now, you wouldn’t believe he was setting foot in front of a crowd of raging fans, some of whom are shouting out offers of marriage and other, less salubrious, activities.  He waves casually towards the screaming women, exuding both charm and grace.  Henry Morgan is well known for his quintessential English Gentleman aesthetic, with a tall, broad body, slicked back, raven coloured hair, and dazzling, cool blue eyes. His looks have helped to land him many leading roles, which span from hero of an epic war story to the wicked vampire who falls head over heels for the damsel in distress.  Whatever the part, Henry always leads, conquers, and takes people’s breath away, and with a talent for causing many a lady to become hot and flustered with her arousal.

Henry Morgan, the actor, the leader, the pin-up, the alpha!  The once upon a time victim who overcame years of torment only to come out on top.

When the crowd finally begins to quieten down, apart from the odd hardcore, lustful female, who can’t quite calm themselves when in the same vicinity of the British heartthrob, Henry takes a seat opposite the mature host.  The host, himself, is another Hollywood legend, Kent Jackson, and is well versed in extracting personal details from his A-list guests. Henry expertly unbuttons his suit jacket and offers a beaming smile, which only serves to up the wolf whistles, thus interrupting the host, who is desperately trying to begin the interview.  Henry laughs breathily, now looking a little embarrassed by his popularity, and runs his finger along his lips, an anxious habit leftover from childhood.  He turns to the older gentleman host, who looks at the audience as if asking permission to finally welcome his guest onto the show.

“Good evening, Henry; you certainly have the following, don’t you?” Kent, who has been hosting since before Henry Morgan was born, laughs softly, then gestures out towards the crowd before them.

“Good evening,” Henry replies, laughing nervously again when some of his ‘following’ whoop and call out his name with over-enthusiastic screaming.  His finger automatically returns to his lips, where they begin to work at soothing his nerves. Though, it is only for a few moments before he remembers he needs to act the part of being cool-headed and confident.

“I am nothing without them, so what can I say, but thank you!” he calls out towards the audience.  An expert response that earns him yet more applause.

“And congratulations on your win, well deserved might I add,” Kent smiles charmingly. “The film itself won Best Motion Picture.”

“Yeah, it was an amazing opportunity to work with some of the best in the business.  I saw the line-up, read the script, and couldn’t sign my name fast enough.  It was just one of those stories you knew was going to be huge on the cinematic screen.”

Henry begins to regale the audience with a recount of his time filming one of the best-selling films of the past year.  The past decade, in fact. He compliments his co-stars, the director and film crew, as well as selling the blockbuster in such a way you wouldn’t know he was giving you a mini sales pitch.  Henry is well established in the film industry and knows how to market his films, his talents, and his brand as a successful actor who can rely on his performances rather than just his pleasing looks.  Though, there’s no denying they do add to his appeal.

He continues to entertain the audience with amusing anecdotes, proving he has the personality as well as the attractive wrapping, and succeeds in making the audience fall in love with him that little bit more.  No matter what he chooses to share with them, he is able to hold both the spectators and the host captive with his ability to speak confidently and self-assuredly.  A far cry from the boy he used to be.

“Now, Henry, I hate to do this to you, but you have quite the reputation for being on the receiving end of kiss-and-tell stories, and with a number of A list celebrities no less-”

The audience cut him off by whooping again, just as Henry smiles bashfully with an overwhelming urge to return his itchy fingers to his lips. However, years of answering questions surrounding his love life means he can control his nervous twitch to a certain extent, so instead, he manages to calm himself with a discreet exhale of breath.

“Though, they are always very complimentary! Would you say you live up to their appraisals of your talents off-screen?”

“Er, well, I try…” he shrugs with a cheeky grin, making one over-excited woman holler out, ‘Take me, Henry!’ to which everyone laughs zealously.

“However, the only woman we ever see you with more than once, and at your premieres and award ceremonies, is a mysterious brunette. Is she someone special to you, Henry?”

The host leans in that little bit further towards Henry, as if they are both conspiring together on something of international importance.

“Mr Jackson, are we snooping?”  Henry asks with a smug grin on his face, to which the older man shrugs innocently before rigorously nodding his head with a sheepish smile.  Henry throws his head back and laughs heartily at the nosy old man, while the audience chuckles alongside as if taking great delight in sharing Henry’s mirth.

“We are on a talk show are we not?  Your love life is prime-time news, Henry!”  Kent throws his hands out wide and looks to the audience for support, which they give to him in spades.

“Well, in answer to your question, she is, indeed, a very special person to me,” Henry teases but has now returned to running his finger anxiously across his lips.

“Is there a romantic attachment there?  What’s her name?” Kent leans in again, just as theatrically as before.  He’s almost rubbing his hands together over the thought of being the first to have Henry reveal his new girlfriend.  This is something he has never been seen to have in all the time he’s been living in the States.

“No!” Henry laughs, causing both Kent and the audience to slump with disappointment.  “But she is my very best friend and has been ever since we were at infant school together.  She’s my biggest supporter and I love her very much. And if you’re watching, Sephy, see you in three weeks!”

He gives a toothy grin and points into the camera lens with his eyes seemingly looking right into hers, just as the audience all descend into a resounding, “Ahhh!”

As Sephy stares at his familiar and handsome face on the TV screen, a fifty-inch plasma no less, she sinks to the floor and lets out a moan of despair, all the while thinking to herself, “Oh God, I’m never going to get a boyfriend!”