Page 1 of Shotgun Daddy
Chapter 1
Reece
18 MONTHS AGO
“You can’t! You can’t do this! The Andromeda Timewarper won’t handle the thrusters!” Reece said, doing his best to make the script as believable and real as possible.
“One more time,” the producer replied, evidently not very impressed with Reece’s reading. “This time, try it with… more urgency.”
“Okay, got it,” Reece said, trying to sound confident but instead fumbling his script in his hands and dropping it on the floor. “Whoops.”
Reece cringed. This wasn’t going well. In fact, it was going terribly and had been ever since he stepped foot inside the small room on the film studio’s back lot. Reece had dreamed of being an actor ever since he was able to take his first steps up onto the stage in kindergarten and play the part of Joseph in the Christmas Story. But despite acing his way through school plays and then into drama school, Reece was finding out that life as a professional actor was something else.
With the three producers’ eyes on him, Reece picked up his script and steadied himself.
You’ve got this.
Focus your breathing. Be still.
Show them what you’ve got. Show them your best…
“You can’t! You can’t do this! The Andromeda Timewarper hasn’t got any… I mean can’t have… I mean… won’t handle the thrusters!” Reece said, tripping over his words and finding himself barely able to get the line out, let alone give it his best.
And it was clear from the disinterested look on the producers’ faces that they felt even less convinced by Reece than he did himself. Even from the second that he stepped into the nondescript room, Reece had felt like he was up against it. It was mid-afternoon and the producers had been seeing actors all morning and for a couple of hours after lunch, meaning that Reece was a long way down on the list of potential actors for the part. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but Reece had picked up on a very ambivalent and distracted vibe from as soon as he introduced himself – and the fact that he was struggling with the script was probably the kiss of death.
“That’s great, thank you,” the lead producer said, confirming Reece’s fears.
“It’s been a pleasure meeting you all today,” Reece said, doing his best to sound confident and optimistic but really struggling to convey anything other than frustration and disappointment. “I hope to hear from you soon.”
Reece didn’t bother sticking around for any longer. As the three producers went back to looking at their phones and talking totheir assistants, Reece simply picked up his bottle of water and walked out of the plain, air-conditioned room and out onto the studio lot.
The sun might have been high in the sky with not a cloud in sight, but as far as Reece was concerned this was a glum, gloomy morning.
“Urgh. Jeez. I’m not holding my breath on that one…” Reece said, even allowing himself a little giggle as the magnitude of his poor performance hit home. “Who wants to be a Spacestorm Trooper anyway?”
Reece was twenty-two years old and still young enough to know that it might be a while longer before his big break. That didn’t make disappointing auditions any less painful, but it at least left him in the knowledge that there was time. It might take another couple of auditions, or it could be ten more, but Reece was confident that as long as he kept getting opportunities to shine, then that was precisely what he would do.
As a film studio motorized buggy whizzed past him, Reece removed his backpack and unzipped the opening to take out Squirt, his most cherished dragon stuffie.
“You still love me, right?” Reece asked, giving Squirt a big squeeze. “Even if I keep flunking my auditions…”
Reece smiled and kissed Squirt on his big, squishy green face.
I wish I had a Daddy to cuddle too…
Ideally a movie star Daddy.
But truly any Daddy who loved me for me.
Reece sighed. Despite being comfortable in his Little identity, Reece hadn’t yet found his Daddy – or even come close. Having fun in clubs and parties was one thing, but Reece was the kind of Little who wanted a relationship. A fast flame was fine, and Reece didn’t judge boys who moved from one Daddy to another at super-speed. But it just wasn’t him. Reece had more than enough insecurity and instability in his life as an actor. When it came to a Daddy, Reece wanted reassurance, reliability, and to feel safe in the knowledge that he could rely on his protector.
Still, with his busy audition schedule and passion for having fun with his friends, Reece’s time was occupied so much that he was able to get through most days without pining too much for his perfect Daddy to reveal himself.
I’ll find my Daddy someday.
Or maybe he’ll find me.
Either way, I’m okay for now…
