Page 18 of The Love Raffle

“Here you are.” They were served about twenty minutes after requesting their food.

Amber thanked the wait staff then picked up her fork.Beca, I’m sorry but this is going horribly.

Levi’s self-esteem was pretty much non-existent right now.I’m socially inept.He knew living in a celebrity bubble would ruin him. Rachel had always said that if he played nice and delivered his lines, he would be fine. But she was wrong. He wasbotchingthis.

Amber took a deep breath after slipping her fork out of her mouth. In the heat of the moment, she had chosen something at random but wasn’t sure what it was.Tastes like fish.It was this white stuff in a bowl that was pretty darn good. “So, you’ve been acting since you were like fourteen?”

Levi was glad she was willing to keep talking. “Yeah. It’s been a while since I’ve been on the scene actually.” He sippedhis wine. “But you would know, right? I mean, my movies are popular.”

Amber chuckled. “They are but when you say it, it kind of sounds like you’re gloating.”

Levi’s face fell. “Huh?”

Amber winked. “But I know you weren’t trying to.” She cleared her throat. “So, how’s it been at the top? Living the dream we all want so desperately?”

Levi picked up his napkin and wiped his mouth. “It’s been okay.”

Amber hummed to herself. “Just okay? I mean, you told me earlier that you got to travel to Dubai once. And apparently the food there was so great that this five-star restaurant is subpar to you.” She giggled nervously. Conversations were never really her thing, but she had to do what she had to do.

Levi wished he hadn’t said that. “Yeah, Dubai was great but in general, the glam life is not as glamorous as it seems on the outside.”

Amber had heard tons of people in his shoes say that before. “Think working minimum wage would be better?” she mumbled while scooping up her fish.

Levi frowned. “Well, no, but—”

“Ignore me. I have a bit of a gripe with that sort of thing.” Amber sighed. “It’s hard seeing someone living my dream and not absolutely adoring it as much as I think I would, you know? But I guess you don’t since for most of your life you’ve been living this way.” She filled her fork with fish and put it in her mouth.

Levi shook his head, pointing his fork at her. “It has its perks, but it’s also got its not-perks.”

“Do the ‘not-perks’ outweigh the perks?” Amber challenged.

Levi didn’t want to start an argument here, but she seemed to.Or am I reading this wrong?Her face was neutral.Gorgeous.She had beautiful brown eyes that he couldn’t stop looking at.But that’s not the point.“Okay, I can list them out for you.” He put his fork down then held up his hand. “Perks: money and job security because of the franchise.”

“Mm.” Amber crinkled her brows to show her interest, nodding. “And the ‘not-perks’ are lack of privacy? I hear you guys complain about that one alot.”

“What do you mean, ‘you guys’?”

“Celebrities?” Amber shrugged.

Levi sighed. “Everyone has their own experience.” He clapped his hands. “Now onto the not-perks. Lack of privacy, like you said, always grinding, life flies by and you’re too busy to see it. There’s also the lack of time for family and friends, isolation, loss of normalcy, and loss of…childhood.” He stared at his plate. “Yeah.”

Amber could hear his hurt. “Sounds to me as if you’ve been waiting a long time to list those not-perks.” She scratched her bottom lip with her teeth. They felt hot and tingly.

I shouldn’t have dumped that on her.“It sounds like I’m shallow and whiny, huh?” Levi asked softly.

Amber stared into those piercing blue eyes of his. “I always say everyone’s got a right to complain if they’re not happy.”

Levi was somehow relieved to hear that from her. “So, you don’t think I’m ungrateful?”

“Has someone told you that you are?” Amber cleared her throat and rubbed her lips. She was so itchy suddenly.

Levi thought of his mother briefly then dismissed the flashback. “I don’t want to bore you with all that.” He tried to smile. “Why don’t you tell me more about you? You gave the winning answer on the show last week. You were so…profound.”

Amber’s cheeks heated. “I only won because you liked what I said.”

“Because it was a great answer to a question that probably shouldn’t have even been asked on a show like that, now that I think about it.” Levi felt a genuine smile grow on his lips after she laughed at his words.

“So, youknowhow weird it sounded?” Amber found it hysterical that he did. It made the joke all the more laughable.

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