Page 81 of If the World Was Ending

“Yeah, well, I kinda think I only got in because I’m with Hannah and Burke,” Colby explained. “We wanna release a song together, and we’re convincing the label. Actually, we convinced them. They’re in.”

Hunter bit his tongue. It wasn’t his place to question this move, but internally he wondered why Colby was aligning himself with yet another artist instead of pushing his solo stuff. He was so good. He didn’t need anyone else. “Cool. That’s great!”

“It is. This song is really something, Hunter. I love it more than anything I’ve written before,” Colby explained, but then he quickly changed the subject. “How was the movie premiere?”

“It was… insane. We got a standing ovation. I’ve never had so many people give me compliments in my fucking life,” Hunter gushed. “I know that’s not a guarantee the average person is gonna watch it or like it, but it felt like a good omen. And it was so incredible.”

“Hold on…” Colby started typing on his phone, Hunter could tell. His eyes widened suddenly, which gave Hunter an even better look at the gray-blue color he’d been missing. “Hunter, there’s like a bunch of articles already calling you a breakout star!”

“Who?”

“Fucking everyone, Hunter!” Colby smiled. “It’s crazy.”

Shit. Hunter reached for his laptop and opened it, trying to type with one hand as he held his phone in the other. It took a minute, but he googled his own name and read the headlines.

Platonic Planet premieres in Toronto and Wow, We’ve Found Our New Superstar.

New Film, New Sexy Star: Hunter Law.

Hunter Law is the New Best Thing.

Newcomer Hunter Law Holds His Own in Star-Studded Cast

Holy shit.

“Is this real life?” Hunter gasped as he leaned back into the fluffy hotel pillows propped against the fancy headboard.

“It is! You’re doing it, Hunter,” Colby said, and his voice dropped an octave. “You did it.”

Their eyes locked through the screen. “You did too.”

“Seems that way,” Colby agreed. “But I don’t want to jinx it.”

Hunter smiled. Colby smiled. “I’m kind of freaking out.”

“Of course you are.” Colby laughed, and his dimple appeared, making Hunter’s heart flip in his chest.

Hunter laughed. “What if it doesn’t last? The hype? Or what if people change their minds and decide I suck? Or what if the hype lasts, but I never get any more good roles? What if I’m typecast? Or considered one-and-done?”

“Dude, take a deep breath and just enjoy the ride. This is huge,” Colby replied and licked his bottom lip absently, but it snagged Hunter’s attention like it was the most interesting thing on the planet. “This is what we dreamed of.”

Hunter nodded. “I might be coming home.”

“To… LA?”

Hunter nodded. “They’re doing another thing there, and I wasn’t going to go but my dad wants me to and… I mean, after this… it would be weird if I didn’t go, right?”

Colby’s smile softened in a way that made Hunter’s insides feel like a melting chocolate chip cookie. “If you think I’m going to say anything other than come home, you’d be wrong.”

There was banging. “Just a sec!” Colby called out and sighed. “I have to go. People never let me fuck around with you in bathrooms. Why is that?”

Hunter’s stomach swooped. “Because the universe likes to cock block us.”

Colby locked eyes with him again. He looked shocked, but then he smiled and shook his head. “Keep me posted on when you’ll be back.”

“Will do. Have a good rest of your night, rock star.”

“You too, movie star.”