Chapter 31
OWEN: Hey! Just saw the story in the trades. That’s a sick project to be attached to! Vega didn’t even tell me you were in the running for the lead.
DYLAN: Thanks, dude. I wasn’t at first. The casting director brought me in for the ex-boyfriend part but Alex thought I’d be better for the lead. He really fought for me. I had to meet with the producers and the investors. Guess what ultimately got me the job?
OWEN: You reminded everyone that I’m your brother?
DYLAN: The wife of the main investor was a big fan of my work in the Garcon commercial.
OWEN: That’s awesome! I mean I don’t have to tell you how great I thought your work was in that.
DYLAN: Anyway, it’s a great script. I’m glad I waited until I found something I really like.
OWEN: It’s a romance, huh?
DYLAN: Romantic thriller. It’s pretty edgy.
OWEN: Meaning there are sex scenes?
DYLAN: Yeah, not explicit. But intimate. That’s why it’s not a huge budget.
OWEN: But they haven’t cast the actress yet?
DYLAN: No, but a lot of actresses want the part. Vega doesn’t want a big star though.
OWEN: So Scarlett knows about this?
DYLAN: That I got the part? Yeah, she’s really happy for me. She’s going to try to come up for at least one of the weekends. We’re shooting up at Big Bear Lake.
OWEN: Right. Because you get stuck in a snowstorm with the girl that you have edgy intimate scenes with? Does Scarlett know about that part?
DYLAN: I didn’t give her a detailed breakdown of the script or anything. It’ll be fine. We’ve been getting along great. Sorry you guys all lost the bet. We made it through all the holidays and we’re still in love.
OWEN: Well, I’ve never been so happy to lose twenty bucks. You guys are great together. Not as great as Frankie and I are and only slightly better than you and Mr. Noodles.
OWEN: I just think you should let your girlfriend know what the script’s like.
DYLAN: I told her it’s really well written.
OWEN: Dude.
DYLAN: I just don’t want to worry her. Things have been going so well. We don’t start shooting for a month, so what’s the point.
OWEN: I hear ya. I’m sure it’ll be fine.
OWEN: You talk to Miles yet?
DYLAN:
MILES: Hey. Just saw the story in the trades. Good for you. Alex Vega’s got a lot of heat right now as a director. Should be a shoe-in for the festival circuit later this year.
MILES: What I mean by that is congratulations.
MILES: You’re still not talking to me, Dylan? Seriously?
MILES: It’s a whole new year—come on.
MILES: Whatever. Grow up.
MILES: Can you believe he still isn’t talking to me? This is the longest he’s ever stayed mad at me.
OWEN: Have you apologized to him?
MILES: I think you know that’s not my style.
OWEN: Well you were kind of an asshole to him in front of his girlfriend.
MILES: I’m always an asshole to him.
OWEN: Look, I’m not taking sides here. But that was the first time he brought a girlfriend home to meet all of us since he was twelve.
MILES: He didn’t have a girlfriend when was twelve.
OWEN: Tabitha. From Wizard.
MILES: Oh yeah. That doesn’t count.
OWEN: My point is—it was a big deal for him. It’s a big deal that he has a real girlfriend now. Period.
MILES: *clears throat and taps microphone* Is this thing on? SHE WAS HIS THERAPIST!!!
OWEN: You said yourself it isn’t that big of an issue since he only had a few sessions with her.
MILES: I must have been in a really good mood when I said that. But yeah. I mean she’s great. I’ve got nothing against her. I have no idea what she sees in him, but she seems to actually like him.
OWEN: You were extra hard on him all night on Thanksgiving and then you guys got into that weird fight.
MILES: Everyone was drunk at that point. Who even remembers?!
OWEN: Literally all of us.
MILES: Well, it’s not like we hit each other or anything. It was Thanksgiving. Families fight. So what? I thought it was water under the bridge. I mean, we exchanged Christmas presents a few weeks later.
OWEN: Yeah but you couriered them to each other.
MILES: He did that first. I’m the one with the kid—he should have come to the house to see Macy.
OWEN: I am not taking sides.
MILES: Thanks, bro.
OWEN: I mean it. I’m not taking sides.
MILES: I know. I appreciate it.
OWEN: I’m more on his side.
MILES: Sure.