First Priority
Priorities Series Book 1
Este Holland
M/M Contemporary Romance; Nerd/Jock
Release Date: 10.17.19
Blurb
Adam
Meeting an A-list movie star like Truman James wasn’t part of my life plan, but neither was temporarily living with my bully of a stepbrother. Being hit on by said celebrity definitely hadn’t been planned.
I wasn’t up for wild parties or talking in front of cameras, so why did I find myself answering Truman’s phone calls and texts? Even more confusing, why did I go on a date with the man?
Beating my social anxiety wasn’t going to happen anytime soon, and avoiding the stubborn actor was even harder, so when I was thrust into the spotlight, there was only one thing I could do…
Run.
Truman
From the moment I set eyes on Adam Hendrix at my Oscar party, I was enraptured. His sweet demeanor and pretty-boy looks captured my heart from the start, and I refused to let Adam get away.
I never intended to out Adam to the media, but that’s exactly what I did. So, when the paparazzi began to swarm, I did the only thing I could to protect Adam… I whisked him away to a place no one could get to him.
Safe on the little island I loved, I let my guard down and showed Adam the real me. The one only a few people in the world know.
But will it be enough to make him stay? Will I be enough to make him happy?
This is a m/m contemporary romance; alpha/nerd; low angst novel. Trigger warning for some bullying.
Adam
My apartment wouldn’t be ready for two weeks. Another two weeks with Chad. I didn’t know if I could do it. If Jeff didn’t live in Portland, I’d have begged to stay with him.
Chad seemed busy with work and his girlfriend, Pacey, and the Truman thing was forgotten, so maybe the next few weeks wouldn’t be so bad.
I got some work done on an ad campaign for dog food and shut down my computer. I stood and stretched, then changed into some old clothes. Well, most of my clothes were old, but I saved these for special occasions. I sneaked out of the apartment and down the block to the bus stop, reading from the Kindle app on my phone while I waited. The new book in the Star King trilogy had come out, and I was halfway through it.
I should’ve been writing my own book, but I’d gotten stuck on the turning point. I had to let my subconscious work it out without me. The bus ride was quick, and I hopped off at the nearest station to the Los Angeles Paws and Claws Animal Shelter. They were a no-kill shelter, so they had little room to spare. Every chance I got, I went down to take some of the residents for walks.
I signed in, looked over the log to see who needed to be walked, and grabbed a few leashes and biodegradable scoop bags. “Hey, guys.” The dogs went nuts when they saw me, barking, wagging their tails, and spilling water bowls. I chuckled and let three dogs out of the cages while I cleaned up their messes, then clipped them to the leashes and headed out.
Contrary to popular belief, most introverts don’t hate sunshine. We simply like to be alone much of the time. I happened to be an introvert with social anxiety, which not all introverts had. Communing with animals was my way of socializing in the “real world” as opposed to online, and I’d been doing it for years. I loved dogs. They were so happy to be with people. And they didn’t expect talking, sex, or money.
“Ready to have some fun?” I looked down at Maybel, Snuffles, and Birdie, who all smiled up at me. I swear they did. “Let’s go.” I jogged with the dogs until we reached the local neighborhood dog park. Then I let them run free—there was plenty for them to enjoy: a drinking fountain, toys, and grass patches to roll around in.
Sitting on a bench in the shade, I read on my phone while the dogs played, but after a while it rang. An unknown number flashed onscreen, and I silenced it. Stupid spam calls.
It rang again, and then again, until I answered it. “Hello?”
“Not only do you hide from me at parties, you evade my calls.”
My heart thudded and my vision tunneled. “Truman James?” I choked out.
“You’re not at your apartment.”
“What?” Was he with Chad?
“Your apartment building has a sign on it that says under renovation.”
“There’s a mold issue.” I washed a hand down my suddenly sweaty face. His voice was just as powerful over the phone as it was in person. How was that even possible? Wait. “You’re at my apartment in Pasadena?”
His low chuckle hit me in the belly, and I had to tell myself to breathe. “I am. Where are you?” he asked.
“A dog park?” Why am I asking him?
“Where?”
I looked around in a panic as if he was going to walk down the sidewalk any minute. “I’m not telling you.”
Silence, then he growled, “Why?”
My hand shook a little at his commanding tone. “Because I don’t want to. Why do you want to know, anyway?”
“I think we got off on the wrong foot.”
“You mean, you were a jackass who tried to railroad me into sex?”
A young dogwalker I recognized from the park gave me a startled look, and I tried to smile at her.
“Right, let’s skip past that.” His voice became cajoling and sweet. “The thing is, I’d like to get to know you better.”
I’d heard that tone before in his movies and interviews on YouTube. Liar. “I don’t believe you.”
“Look, Adam…” I hid a grin behind one hand. There was the real Truman. “I don’t have time for these games.”
“Then quit playing them,” I said and hung up.
Let me stop and point something out. I’m no martyr. I wasn’t playing hard to get or suffering from delusions. It was easy to guess what Truman wanted and why he wanted it. I turned him down because I knew myself and people like him. He was the popular kid, used to getting his way, and I was the nerd who dared to defy him.
If I’d been anyone else, I would’ve ripped my clothes off faster than The Flash and screamed, “Take me now!” However, if we, by some miracle, got to his bedroom and stripped naked…I’d choke.
I’d have an anxiety attack and he’d flip; then I’d run away, embarrassed and ashamed.
Deep breath.
I wanted nothing to do with any part of that scenario. Not even for a chance to see Truman James naked.
Este Holland is a writer and reader of all things Romance. She’s also a treasure hunter, a word wizard, a lover, and a fighter. She was born and raised in WV, and now lives in Virginia. She works in marketing during the day. She began writing novels in 2012.
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