“You wanted our Lord in heaven, our savior Jesus Christ himself to descend from the heavens and present you with the award himself?”

“Okay. Okay, I know I sound a little poor little rich boy right now.”

Amanda winced, but nodded all the same. “You kinda do, yeah.”

“I can’t explain it.”

“Well, if you’re struggling with some sort of letdown, look at it this way, you accomplished something so many people dream of and you did it with a part you should be proud of. Did the movie get a little white saviory? Yes.”

“Damn. Tell me how you really feel.”

“I mean, you didn’t notice that when you read the script?”

“Amanda, listen, I’m a super-famous, very important actor. I’m not accustomed to people speaking to me in this manner.”

“Sorry, Your Highness, but I don’t know or like you enough to protect your feelings.”

Sam let out another deep laugh that made her thighs melt. She should really get up and take a lap, just to cool off, but she stayed right where she was.

“All I’m saying is, even though the movie wasn’t exactly what I would have wanted, you were amazing in it. You gave one of our ancestors a voice and the Academy actually acknowledged that. People know Josiah Williams now in a way they didn’t before thanks to you. Be proud of that. Also you and your grandmother are both Oscar winners. Your whole family should be over the moon.”

“They are. They are. And you’re right. Thank you for that blunt, but much appreciated perspective.”

“You’re welcome. Now for your next project can you please do something that requires more male nudity?”

“Listen. If you have the porn script ready just say so.”

Amanda looked over at him again and that blinding smile let her know she was in deep, deep trouble.

She was gonna have to sleep with him again. She’d be a fool not to.

* * *

Sam was still a bit in shock. He’d been thinking about two things all week: his career and finding Cha-Cha again. He’d never thought he’d find himself sitting with her during the opening ceremony of Helene and Ignacio’s wedding Olympics. And he didn’t expect his attraction to her to grow exponentially during one conversation. He prided himself in having a team, hell, a family that kept it real with him. But beyond the many opinions the Internet had to offer, his cousin Corie was the only one to question the themes in the film. He loved Corie, but she dragged everyone and everything, so Sam spent most of his time taking her opinions with a grain of salt.

Sam understood. They all wanted to encourage him in his craft, still no one had given their complex perspective as succinctly as Amanda McQueen. He was gonna call her Cha-Cha though until she said otherwise.