Summer Love: New York City is getting ready to release!
Here's a first look at one of my favorite scenes that started it all!
The waiter took our menu, and the man gave me his full attention. “What do you do for work?” I asked.
“Um… I act. I’ve been on Broadway a few times,” he shared.
“Really?” I asked and raised my eyebrows in shock.
“Yeah, I’m not like Ben Platt or anyone, but I’ve been in a few.”
“That’s awesome. I could never put myself out there like that.”
“Why not?” he asked and leaned his arm on the booth behind me, holding up his head.
“I’m… shy… I don’t like to have all the attention on me.”
“Really? There’s nothing wrong with a bit of attention sometimes,” he said, and I smiled down at my lap, feeling a slight blush creep onto my face. The waiter returned and sat down our drinks but started staring at my companion.
“I’m sorry to ask… But are you Sebastian Barlowe?” he asked. I looked at the man beside me, and his head fell slightly.
“I am,” he replied.
“I am a huge fan of Infinity HQ and your character… Could I get a photo?” he asked. The man, Sebastian, turned and gave me a look that said sorry, but he slid out of the booth to take a picture with the young man. He signed a sheet on the waiter’s check pad and scurried off to leave us be. I thought for a moment and realized I knew those movies. Spencer loved them, and he had me watch all of them with him when we first met. I couldn’t believe I didn’t recognize him… However, I usually paid more attention to Spencer than to the movies. Sebastian sat back down, and I looked at him.
“So, an actor, actor,” I said, and he made a cringe-like face.
“Eh, I don’t really like to start conversations with that,” he shared. I took a sip of my drink, and he gave me a small smile as he took a sip of his. “I can usually go around and not be noticed except for maybe one person… that would be my typical encounter,” he added, gesturing toward where the waiter had stood.
“Well, that’s really cool… When did you start acting?” I asked, getting comfortable in the booth, curling one of my legs beneath me as I leaned my arm on the back of the booth, just like he had been a moment before. I rested my head on my hand as I noticed he mirrored me.
“I was twenty,” he shared. I didn’t quite get a vibe he was that much older than me. I was twenty-two, and hearing how he started his story; told me he was nearing forty. “I did a few appearances in TV shows, then about seven years later, I got my role in Infinity HQ.”
“Awesome. You said Broadway too. Did you do anything else?”
“Um… some modeling, I guess… If you’d call it that,” he laughed, his face getting a slight pinkish tone. He was incredibly bashful for a super confident man asking me out. “But enough about me, tell me more about you. You said you went to NYU. You’ve published a book. Do you live with your family?” he asked, taking another sip of his drink.
“I don’t. I’m originally from Ohio. I live in Hell’s Kitchen with my two friends. We all met in college and moved in together our second year.”
“That’s great. That’s what… twenty minutes from here?” he asked.
“Yeah, a quick train ride home.”
“Nice, I thought you were around here. I’ve run into you more than anyone else…” he laughed lightly. I smiled and took another sip from my drink as I glanced around the bar. Nobody was staring. Nobody else seemed to pay attention to us sitting and having a drink together. “I did want to express how much I liked your book, in case I haven’t already….”
“You have. I appreciate it. I didn’t really think you’d be the target audience,” I teased. It was a New Adult Romance novel, and I certainly was expecting maybe some girls my age to be eating it up.
“I didn’t think I was going to like it that much. But after seeing you at the coffee shop, then again at the bookstore, something told me I had to buy it. I will admit, I learned a lot about what women like, reading that,” he said with raised eyebrows as he took one last gulp from his glass. I laughed lightly, and the waiter returned, asking if we wanted another drink. Sebastian looked at me, and I checked my phone for the time, only to see my phone had been blowing up. We had been there for almost an hour. I had text messages from Spencer, freaking out, wondering if I was okay, and Katie asking how everything was going.
“Um, I can’t, sadly… I need to get going,” I said to Sebastian. He nodded and gestured to the waiter with one finger. I opened my wallet, and Sebastian shook his head.
“No, no, I’ve got it.”
“No, I insist,” I said, but after I did, I realized I didn’t have a lot of cash on me. The waiter brought the check to Sebastian and stuck his card in the book before handing it back.
“It’s already covered. But you could give me your number…” he said. I zipped my wallet and felt a shiver run through my spine.
“Yeah… sure,” I replied. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and unlocked it for me before handing it over. I added my number and handed it back to him. He returned his card, signed the receipt, and walked out of the bar with me. “Well, I’ll see you… around,” I said.
“I can take you home if you’d like?” he offered. I liked the idea of having someone with me on the subway, but I didn’t want to put him out of his way.
“Do you live this way?”
“No, I’m actually just around the block,” he said sheepishly.
“Oh, gosh… No, that’s alright. I appreciate the offer, though,” I said.
“I’ll walk you to the subway. How about that?”
“Sure,” I smiled. We started walking down the street, and he looked up at the sky.
“Sucks you can’t see the stars,” he remarked. I looked up as well and nodded.
“Yeah, that’s something I miss about being home. You can see the stars all the time,” I replied as I returned my attention in front of me. Sebastian hummed as we quickly reached the subway. “Well, thanks for the drink… I had a good time.”
“Me too. I’ll text you,” he said.
“Sounds great.”
I gave him a small wave before walking to the terminal. I stopped myself, an idea popping into my head.
“Sebastian!” I called. He turned and looked at me. “What’re you doing Friday?”
“Um… nothing yet, why?” he asked, walking back to me, so I didn’t have to raise my voice.
“My friend has a band… he plays at Afterparty… on the corner of West 3rd….”
“Oh, I’ve heard of it….”
“Would you like to meet me there?” I asked. He thought for a moment, his eyes taking in my features again before drifting to his feet.
“Sure. Does nine work?”
“That’s perfect,” I replied. Sebastian smiled and bit his lip, rubbing his hand along the scruff that covered his jaw.
“I’ll see you Friday.”
I watched as he turned and started walking again. And my heart did a little flip when he peeked back at me, a slight chuckle slipping past his lips as he faced forward and kept walking. I really enjoyed talking to him.
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