Price

by Em S. A’cor

“Do you want fries with that?” A curl at Debbie’s forehead fell across her eye. She smoothed the loose lock behind her ear and tapped on her order pad with her pen.

The fit gentleman, graying at the temples, leered at her. “Are the fries here good?”

She stifled an eye roll. She wondered what a man in an Armani suit was doing in her greasy spoon off the beaten path on a slow night. Her gaze traveled down his chest to the name badge at the end of his lanyard. “They’re the best in Vegas… Dr. Erlich.”

He glanced down. With a smooth swoop, he removed the loop, wrapped the string around the tag, and slid the wad into his pocket. Crossing his arms, he leaned back with a suave, sparkling smile. “In that case, I’ll take the fries. And you can call me Felix.”

Read more

Welcome to this short story of serial fiction.

When middle-aged Em falls for the alluring actor Rick Dannister, reality and fantasy parallel in unexpected and hilarious ways. From hot fox to hot flashes, the drama unfolds on page and on screen.

If you love Euphoria and Grey’s Anatomy, you’ll love Big Screen Boyfriend.

Big Screen Boyfriend

by Em S. A’cor

Chapter 7

At the same well-appointed table in the hotel lounge, Em and Rick enjoyed another round of coffee and conversation.

“Let me pull a few strings.” Rick’s chest expanded with swagger. “I’m really optimistic we can make your screenplay. And I’d be delighted to play me. Even the sexy bits. It’ll be campy fun.”

Em smiled with delight. “Wonderful! I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Rick took a swig of coffee, licked his lips, and looked Em in the eye with a sly glimmer. “Speaking of wants… what do you want… Em?”

“Well, I…I want to make my screenplay.”

He laughed softly and clasped his hands. “Yes. But beyond that.” As his eyes moved along the length of her, he raised his eyebrows seductively. “What do you… want?”

Em shuffled her feet and swallowed. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Rick casually ran his hand down the front of his chest. “I think you do know.” He paused. “Did I mention I’m divorced now?”

Em nodded.

“And that I don’t know anyone in Pittsburgh?”

Em nodded again.

He put his hands on hers. “We could continue this conversation somewhere more… comfortable.” He jutted his chiseled chin toward the hallway. “My room’s just around the corner.”

Em’s mouth went slack. Everything around her became bright and hot. Her breath quickened.

She looked in the direction of the door. Another Rick Dannister stood there, beckoning her with his hand.

Her eyes darted back to the Rick Dannister in front of her. Her heartbeat thumped in her ears.

Rechecking the door, she noticed the Rick Dannister there pixelating. She refocused on Rick at the table. When she stroked his fingers on hers, he did not pixelate. The pain and conflict at her core twisted her face.

Rick tilted his head to catch her eyes. “Em?”

“A part of me would like to stay and continue this… conversation…” She swallowed, clenching her fists to gather fortitude. “...but I should go.”

He narrowed his eyes with a skeptical glare. “If that’s your wish. Though I expect our paths may never cross again.”

“I understand. Thank you so much for your time. It was a pleasure meeting you.”

She forced a smile and dashed out with tears clinging to her eyelids. In her rush, she plowed through the Rick Dannister at the door, who burst into pixels like a blast of confetti.

***

Filling in Dee at their usual place at the William Penn, Em hung her head. Her shoulders sagged. “You were right, Dee. I feel so stupid.”

Dee put down her coffee. “Don’t beat yourself up. He’s a good looking man. The stars got in your eyes. That’s all.”

Em puffed in disbelief. “For a split second, I was so tempted.”

Dee blinked with compassion. Then, she turned toward the hotel Starbucks like something had caught her attention. The local news blared on the television in the corner. She jerked her head toward the broadcast. “Maybe this will make you feel better about your decision.”

The two of them got up to move closer. Video of Rick Dannister with his hand on the shoulder of a beautiful woman in her 20s with long, wavy, dark hair, deep brown skin, and umber, doe-like eyes flashed across the screen. As they exchanged adoring glints along the railing of a fancy restaurant, she stood out in a white dress with a high slit and a black leather jacket.

An anchor read the voice over: “The stars shine on Grandview Avenue! Our crews spotted Rick Dannister, who you might recognize as Dr. McSizzle from ABC’s Northwest Med. His upcoming movie is Mean Men 3: Partners in Crime, with shoots all over Pittsburgh. He and his co-star, actress and model Carmen Sutra, are enjoying some down time on Mt. Washington. Columbia Pictures plans to release the film early next year.”

Dee watched, stunned.

Em shrugged. “Who needs the paparazzi when you have WTAE?”

Dee agreed. “Like TMZ Pittsburgh.” A look of scorn came over her. “I guess he’s not so alone after all. Who is that? Is she even out of college yet?”

Em widened her stance and crossed her arms. “That would be his cherry tart.”

***

When Em got home after a long day, Jay was putting away groceries. She spied a large bag on the table. Rich, spicy aromas emanated from it. “Ah! You picked up something for us.”

Jay shifted his shoulder in triumph. “Your favorite take out. And we have ice cream for dessert.”

Em managed a tired and grateful smile.

Once Jay put the Häagen-Dazs in the freezer, he went to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Long day?”

“The longest.”

“Well, I just dropped off Bea at a sleepover. So, it’s just you and me tonight. How about a movie with dinner?”

“Sounds good.”

Jay clicked the remote. A Rick Dannister film popped up.

Em touched his arm. “Uh, maybe no movie. Let’s just eat.”

Jay smiled and shrugged as he clicked off the TV and put down the remote. He took the food out of the bag and placed it on the table.

She watched the care and effort he put into it. “You know what I like about you, honey?”

He responded with a puzzled grin. “What’s that?”

“You’re solid. The way a man should be.”

“Whoa.” His eyebrows danced. “We can head straight to ice cream if you want something solid.”

Em looked at him with an amused smile. “I mean, you aren’t made of pixels.”

Jay could only scratch his head. Em knew he wouldn’t understand the reference, since he had never read her screenplay. She pulled the folder containing the script out of her satchel and dumped it in the trash. After carrying it around for weeks in her bag, she perceived a sudden weightlessness.

Sitting across from him at the table, she gazed at him chomping on his taco and licking his lips and fingers, though he wasn’t as slick as Rick Dannister.

“Hot,” she commented without elaborating.

Jay, oblivious to her thoughts, protruded his lip. “The pico’s not too spicy actually.”

In a pensive state, Em took a bite and chewed. “Do you like cherry tarts?”

Jay pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. “We have ice cream in the freezer.”

With a light laugh, Em put down her taco. “We always have ice cream.”

“I know. Vanilla. My favorite.”

Em’s face softened. Her eyes glimmered. “An underrated flavor.” She went to the freezer and brought the tub to the table. “Maybe we should skip straight to dessert.”

Jay’s eyes lit up.

Em gave him a sweet kiss. “And vanilla’s just fine with me.”

❣️ The End ❣️

Read additional chapters of Big Screen Boyfriend here.

Chapter 1 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend

Chapter 2 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-2

Chapter 3 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-3

Chapter 4 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-4

Chapter 5 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-5

Chapter 6 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-6

Chapter 7 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-7

Read more books by Em S. A’cor HERE: https://www.emsacorbooks.com/

Em S. A’cor is an award-winning author of medical romance and Gen X romance. Get your heart thumping with her books, Twitter Crush and Twitter Flames. You’ll find her, coffee in hand, south of Pittsburgh, where she writes her books and takes on the world with her husband, daughter, and pet gecko.

Welcome to this short story of serial fiction.

When middle-aged Em falls for the alluring actor Rick Dannister, reality and fantasy parallel in unexpected and hilarious ways. From hot fox to hot flashes, the drama unfolds on page and on screen.

If you love Euphoria and Grey’s Anatomy, you’ll love Big Screen Boyfriend.

Big Screen Boyfriend

by Em S. A’cor

Chapter 6

At their usual table, Em held her head as she debriefed Dee. “I’m sure I looked like a starstruck idiot.” Then she perked up. “But you should have seen his eyes… his mouth… the hot cherry filling.”

“I’m sure you felt all melty inside,” Dee quipped.

Em wiped her brow. “Could have been a hot flash, but I’m pretty sure it was because of him.”

“And he’s hiding from the paparazzi?”

“Yeah,” Em confirmed with puppy dog eyes. “He seemed so lonely, not knowing anyone here.”

“Puh-leez.” Dee snapped her fingers. “Girl, he just wants to smash your kitty. Because he can.”

Em crossed her arms. “I appreciate the thought, but he’s not like that. He was a gentleman. He even gave me a rose. It was sweet.” She swept her palm from her wrist to her elbow. “He touched my arm, Dee. And I touched him. And he did not pixelate.”

“The real deal, huh?”

“He wants me to come by for coffee again.”

Dee tensed. “Are you gonna?”

“Well, yeah. He wants to talk about my screenplay.”

Dee shook her head. “Oh, Em.”

Em waved her off. “He did mention that he and Bex are fully divorced.”

“And you and Jay are fully married.”

“I told him that.”

“Good.”

***

Sitting on the couch in her pajamas, Em watched the sex scene on repeat from X-DC with Rick Dannister as the president having a romp with a senator’s wife. She hit play, then rewind, play, then rewind. Despite how hot and bothered she was becoming, Rick Dannister did not leap forth from the screen. She checked the front door. He wasn’t there either. Frustrated, she went upstairs and crawled into bed next to her snoring husband.

This woke him up. Jay peered at the clock. “Wha? It’s 2:00 a.m.” He rubbed his eyes, then got a cheeky look. He reached over to grope her. “As long as you’re up, we might as well make good use of our time.”

Em laughed softly and acquiesced to his advances. They wiggled out of their bottoms, and Jay rolled on top of her. They thrust and grunt quietly, so as not to wake Bea.

Em closed her eyes and drifted into a dreamlike state. In her mind’s eye she saw a split screen. On the reality side there was only Jay. On the fantasy side, Rick Dannister pixelated into place, superimposed upon Jay. However, the pixels never fully coalesced and eventually faded away. The two halves of her dream screen merged into full screen reality. She opened her eyes.

With a final thrust, Jay stiffened and collapsed on top of Em. Feeling a few genuine throbs inside, she squeezed her face into a small, satisfied smile. Jay rolled off and went right back to sleep.

Read additional chapters of Big Screen Boyfriend here.

Chapter 1 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend

Chapter 2 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-2

Chapter 3 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-3

Chapter 4 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-4

Chapter 5 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-5

Chapter 6 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-6

Chapter 7 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-7

Read more books by Em S. A’cor HERE: https://www.emsacorbooks.com/

Em S. A’cor is an award-winning author of medical romance and Gen X romance. Get your heart thumping with her books, Twitter Crush and Twitter Flames. You’ll find her, coffee in hand, south of Pittsburgh, where she writes her books and takes on the world with her husband, daughter, and pet gecko.

Welcome to this short story of serial fiction.

When middle-aged Em falls for the alluring actor Rick Dannister, reality and fantasy parallel in unexpected and hilarious ways. From hot fox to hot flashes, the drama unfolds on page and on screen.

If you love Euphoria and Grey’s Anatomy, you’ll love Big Screen Boyfriend.

Big Screen Boyfriend

by Em S. A’cor

Chapter 5

Between work, school, sports events, writing, and everything in between, a year flew by. One day blurred into the next. Most mornings started with getting Bea out the door for school and ended each night by crawling into bed next to a snoring Jay.

The script wedged among the folders on Em’s desk remained untouched. Over time, Em forgot about it, or least, didn’t think about it as much. It simply became a fun little thing she once worked on and nothing more.

Then one day, as Em scrolled through her phone, the hum drum of life took an unexpected and explosive turn. Gripping her handheld device, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Her hand shook and her heart pounded.

Immediately, she texted Dee: “We need to have coffee asap!”

***

Dee was already waiting at their usual table when Em rushed in. As soon as they hugged, they chimed in unison, “I have something to tell you!”

They laughed at their telepathy.

“You first,” Em insisted.

“I don’t know if you saw.” Dee showed Em a headline of a news article on her phone. “Your dream boy is shooting a movie in Pittsburgh.”

Em nodded like she already knew. “I have a confession to make.”

Dee sat up, looking intrigued.

“You know that script I wrote?”

“Yeah.”

Em steeled herself for her uncomfortable admission. “I sent it to him.”

Dee gasped. “You didn’t!”

“I did.” Em wrung her hands. “And I didn’t hear anything. Not that I expected to. I figured he’d never even see it in his mountains of fan mail.” She thrust her phone at Dee. “But look.”

Dee’s jaw dropped. “It’s an email. From Rick Dannister! From this week!”

“Yeah. Read it.”

Dee grabbed the phone and read aloud. “Hi Em. Thanks for the script. It’s really funny. You’re a true fan to put those elements together…”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Skip down. Skip down.”

Dee sprang ahead, her voice rising with each sentence. “I’m in Pittsburgh shooting a movie. I’d like to meet you. Let me know if you want to get together for coffee. Rick.” Dee squealed. “Oh my God! Is it really him?”

“It has to be. The only people who have ever seen that script are you and him, and he mentions enough specifics. It has to be him.”

“What are you going to do?”

Em bit her lip. “I’ll probably never get another chance to meet him.”

“Does Jay know?”

Em brushed her off. “It’s just coffee. I’m just curious. No reason to make Jay feel insecure unnecessarily. Of course, he has no reason to be.”

Dee blinked but didn’t say anything.

“It’s not like we’re going to haul off and screw.” Em looked askance. “Rick still has his ex-wife for that.”

“But you have thought about it. The screwing, that is.”

“Thinking and doing are two different things.” Em paused. “It’s just coffee.”

“Girl. Be careful.”

***

Em got off the elevator at the Hotel Monaco, a popular discrete accommodation for visiting celebrities. In the vestibule, she checked herself in the mirror. She rubbed at the lines on her face, tidied her lipstick, and smoothed her dress. Sucking in her breath, she walked toward the lounge. Security posted at the door checked her ID and let her in.

Inside, Rick Dannister drew her in like a magnet. She stifled a gasp.

His cropped gray hair, steely blue eyes, stubble on his chin, neat mustache, and glasses made him even sexier in real life. His fitted, long-sleeved black sweater and black pants highlighted his athletic physique.

He stood and extended his hand. “So nice to meet you, Em. Right on time. Though for a moment, I thought you wouldn’t come.”

She gave him a knowing smile for reprising the line from her script. “It would be hard not to.”

He returned the knowing smile. “Thanks for meeting me here. It’s a paparazzi-free zone. They’re on to me being in Pittsburgh.”

He motioned for her to have a seat at a table for two, dressed in hotel splendor. He came to the side of the table, where he stood and tipped the silver urn. The long, shiny spout protruded waist high.

As the steam curled up from the cups, Em stared in disbelief that Rick Dannister was standing right in front of her. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she had a hot flash. “So steamy,” she uttered softly.

Rick winked and nodded. “Cream?”

“I will.” She stammered. “Um. I mean, I… I will have some. Cream, that is. Yes.”

Rick picked up the cream dispenser. “May I?”

“Of course.”

He pumped it forward, again, waist high. The thick, milky liquid spurt into her hot beverage.

In a mesmerized trance, Em watched it splash. She scanned him from his head to his hips. “Oh, that’s fine, Sugar…”

He stopped pouring and raised an eyebrow.

She snapped out of it. “Um, sugar. Yes. Sugar.” With nervous overscooping, she dug heaps of the white crystals out of the dish and plopped them into her cup. “Sugar makes coffee…”

Rick took the seat across from her and held her gaze.

She bit her lip. “...all the sweeter.”

He grinned through a chuckle.

With each suave sip, Em focused on his perfect lips pressed against the rim of his cup. Without taking her eyes off him, she brought her coffee to her mouth, but quickly pulled it away, nearly spilling it. “Hot! Hot. You’re… It… It’s hot.”

“If you need to blow on it, it’s okay with me.” He winked again, knocking Em off balance. He pointed to a curate brimming with sandwiches, scones, and desserts on its three tiers. “Maybe a treat first?”

Rick selected a cherry-filled tart. As he bit into the pastry, the filling gushed. His tongue darted sensually at the red goo on his lips. Brushing his fingers along his mouth to get the last drop, he licked the stickiness off his fingertips. He tilted his head back. “Mmmm. So good.”

Staying fixed on him, she blindly picked a long, chocolate-covered eclair. She took a bite and the custard spilled into her mouth.

As she slowly chewed, he reached over and lightly wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin. “You got a little bit there.”

She touched where he had wiped. “Thank you.” Collecting herself, she tried to make more cogent conversation. “I didn’t know you were a cherry tart kind of guy.”

“Usually, I’m not,” he admitted, “but I’m playing a villain now. A few extra calories won’t hurt. It’s such a relief not to be typecast.”

“Sounds like you like the change.” She pulled her mouth to the side and squinted. “I appreciate the invitation to come here. What made you reach out?”

He let out a charming laugh. “Believe it or not, I don’t know anyone in this town. But I remember your script and that you were from Pittsburgh. So I thought I’d take a chance that you might meet me. Clever stuff, by the way. Your script.”

“Thanks.” She pressed her lips together. “Though I would’ve thought you’d know someone everywhere you went.”

“You’d think. But none of my contacts migrated to Pittsburgh.” He glanced out the window, then back to Em. “A shame, though. It’s a pretty city. With pretty women. Like you.”

She blushed and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. After blowing on her coffee, she took a brave gulp, then set the cup down. “Still hot. And sweet.”

After taking another bite of the eclair, she chased it with the coffee. Rick plucked two strawberries from the display and dipped the tips in whipped cream. Holding both strawberries in one hand, he licked off the frosting and nibbled the pointed ends before devouring them down to their green stems. The juice seeped from the fruit.

“In the titties… I mean, cities where you don’t know anyone…” Em shrunk at her Freudian slip. “...I imagine you stay in touch with your family. Your girls.”

“Yes. My girls.” Rick swallowed the chewed strawberries. “You know, their mother and I are completely divorced now.”

“I’d seen something about that, but I wasn’t sure the extent of it, because of… well… the paparazzi.”

“Mm. Well, we are fully divorced.” He pressed on her arm to emphasize “fully.”

Her eyebrows arched at his lingering touch. She nodded. “Fully,” she repeated.

With his hand still on her arm, he didn’t pixelate. She looked up. Their eyes locked. The background behind him went from soft and hazy to sharp and clear.

Her hand began to shake. “Uh… but I’m not divorced. In fact, I should get going. I need to get my daughter to soccer practice, and there’s dinner and all that.”

“Of course. Those things are important.” He got up and walked her to the door. “I enjoyed your company. I hope you’ll come have coffee with me again. I’d really like to talk more about your screenplay and how we might make that happen.”

Em held her breath and smiled. “Sure. I hope it won’t be too hard. Or… erm… maybe it will be?”

Rick took her hands and gave her a social double cheek kiss. He grabbed a rose from the arrangement on the console table. Dipping his nose into its center, he inhaled and presented it to her. “Until next time, then.”

As she accepted the flower, a thorn pricked her finger, causing her to almost drop the deep red flower. Embarrassed, she giggled and repositioned her fingers. She pushed her nose into the velvety hollow, though with less finesse than Rick. She sneezed.

“Thank you for the rose… bud… the rose. And thanks for the hot… hot coffee.” She scurried out.

As she waited for the elevator, she looked back at the lounge door. So Hollywood. So charming. So out of my league.

The elevator dinged. She got on and the doors closed.

Read additional chapters of Big Screen Boyfriend here.

Chapter 1 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend

Chapter 2 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-2

Chapter 3 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-3

Chapter 4 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-4

Chapter 5 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-5

Chapter 6 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-6

Chapter 7 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-7

Read more books by Em S. A’cor HERE: https://www.emsacorbooks.com/

Em S. A’cor is an award-winning author of medical romance and Gen X romance. Get your heart thumping with her books, Twitter Crush and Twitter Flames. You’ll find her, coffee in hand, south of Pittsburgh, where she writes her books and takes on the world with her husband, daughter, and pet gecko.

Welcome to this short story of serial fiction.

When middle-aged Em falls for the alluring actor Rick Dannister, reality and fantasy parallel in unexpected and hilarious ways. From hot fox to hot flashes, the drama unfolds on page and on screen.

If you love Euphoria and Grey’s Anatomy, you’ll love Big Screen Boyfriend.

Big Screen Boyfriend

by Em S. A’cor

Chapter 4

A month later, Em and Dee rendezvoused for their usual meeting.

Em, who had been reading Dee’s work, handed it back to her. “Well, Maid in Leather is coming along. And when I say coming, I mean that in the most prolific way. Who doesn’t love a happy ending? Or lots of happy endings, for that matter?”

Dee smirked. “I aim to please.” She took a long sip from her coffee cup. “So what’s new on the Rick Dannister front?”

Em’s eyes lit up. “I’ve found the crown jewel of all Rick Dannister sex scenes.”

Dee nearly spit out her coffee. “What?! You are crazy, girl. But that’s why I love you. Lemme see.”

Em pulled up the video. “Okay. This is from his new hit show on Netflix, X-DC. He plays the president who has a thing for drug and alcohol-fueled parties with young staffers and the Washingtonian elite.” She handed the phone to Dee, who already had an anticipatory gleam in her eye. “In this scene, he leaves a stuffy soirée at the Mayflower Hotel and goes upstairs for a liaison with a senator’s wife.”

***

The president, played by Rick Dannister, enters a hotel room. Two secret service agents stand guard at the door after it closes.

The senator’s wife sits on the bed in a slip, pearls, elegant fishnet pantihose, and heels. Her party dress is in a heap in the corner.

“I didn’t think you’d come.” The senator’s wife leers at him, coy, yet calculated.

The president runs his hand along his upper thigh. “It would be hard not to.”

She flips her coiffed hair back. “They’ll notice you’re gone. We don’t have much time.”

The president narrows his eyes. “Enough time.”

He goes to her. After picking up her drink from the nightstand, he takes a gulp. He sets the glass down and dunks his thumb in the booze, then traces her mouth with his thumb. “What a pretty mouth you have. Is this what you take care of the senator with?”

“You know, I’m leaving him.”

“Now that’s a thought.” He speaks with incredulous acerbity. “But I know you won’t.” He puts his thumb in her mouth. “Because you’re a good girl. A good wife. With a good… mouth. That can keep a secret.” He advances his thumb deeper and opens his mouth to demonstrate what he wants. He pants lightly as he becomes aroused. “That’s it. Take it. Deeper. Wider. Because you’re such a good… good…”

She gags.

He pulls out and his face is full of ferocity and desire. In the mirror, the president can be seen yanking his dress shirt off and tugging his pants down to reveal a fully erect prosthesis.

“Turn over. Now!” he orders, commanding and rough.

The senator’s wife lays prone on the bed. There’s the sound of ripping nylon. With the focus on her face, the president’s arms are on either side of her shoulders. She groans with a bump from behind. A quick wide shot reveals his unclothed body on top of her with her slip up over her hips. With a close up of her face, they writhe and moan to a peak. Then the president’s arms withdraw. She drops her head, panting.

Out of frame, the cool and utilitarian president mutters, “I have to get back to the party.”

***

Dee handed the phone back to Em. “From McSizzle to Mr. President. Holy Hail to the Chief!”

Em bubbled like she had insider knowledge. “He’s said in interviews that he was willing to do the scene without the prosthesis, but he thought it would be more respectful to the cast and crew to use one.”

“What a gentleman.” Dee held out her hand to accept Em’s pages. “So, what did you turn this into?”

Em handed over her script, and Dee began to read.

***

SCENE 5 -- INTERIOR SUBURBAN HOME

A week later, Em settles onto the couch again with a pint of ice cream. With a click of the remote, the opening of “X-DC” appears on TV. Rick Dannister as the president appears on the screen.

He steps out of the screen and toward Em. She is shocked.

EM

You let yourself in.

RICK DANNISTER

You okay with that?

EM

I didn’t think you’d come.

Rick stands over her on the couch and sensually brushes her lips with his thumb.

RICK DANNISTER

It would be hard not to.

He puts his thumb between her parted lips. She readily accepts it. He presses deeper into her mouth. As she takes it in, he pixelates.

RICK DANNISTER

(demonstrating by opening his own mouth)

That’s it. Wider… wider… That’s a good girl.

Split screen: On the reality side, Em is deep-throating a spoonful of Häagen-Dazs. She gags and removes the spoon.

EM

We should go upstairs.

SCENE 6: INTERIOR, BEDROOM

Em sits on the edge of the bed in a bra and fishnet pantihose. In the mirror, she watches Rick Dannister undress down to a fully erect prosthesis. He turns to face her.

EM

You don’t have to use the prosthesis.

RICK DANNISTER

I respect you too much not to.

Em grins appreciatively at his reply. He goes to her and flips her onto her belly and lifts up her hips. He tears her hosiery and smashes himself against her with his bare body.

Split screen: In reality, Em wears baggy sweatpants. She squeezes the thick shaft of a flashlight between her upper thighs and drapes a weighted blanket across her back.

On the fantasy side, Eric thrusts and groans with a lusty growl. On the reality side, under the covers, Em smiles with ecstacy.

In the distance, the door from the garage slams. There are muffled sounds of Bea belting Taylor Swift’s “You Belong with Me” at the top of her lungs.

JAY’S VOICE

(from downstairs)

Hi, honey! We’re home.

Split screen: Em bolts up and throws off the heavy blanket. On the fantasy side, RICK DANNISTER dismounts and looks sad.

EM

You have to go now.

RICK DANNISTER

Will I see you again?

EM

(pause)

I know where to find you.

They look at each other affectionately.

EM

(swoony sigh)

Oh, Rick Dannister. I… I lo–

RICK DANNISTER

I’ll see you around.

They kiss passionately. As they embrace, he disintegrates into pixels and disappears.

As Em quickly folds the blanket and lays it across the bed and sets the flashlight on the nightstand, Bea bursts in.

BEA

Mom, can I sleep over at Elle’s tonight?

EM

You need to unload the dishwasher and fold your laundry. Then you can go to Elle’s.

BEA

Awww, Mom. Okay.

Bea trudges away past her father leaning against the door frame. He lifts his eyebrows flirtatiously at Em.

JAY

If she’s at a sleepover tonight, you know what that means.

EM

(playfully)

What?

JAY

We could curl up on the couch and watch TV… and maybe… I’ll feed you ice cream.

EM

I ate all the ice cream.

JAY

I guess you’ll have to settle for just me, then.

EM

That would be real. Real nice.

***

Dee lifted her head. “Awww. You have a soft spot for Jay after all. Who is real, you know.”

“I am well aware.”

“Is there more?”

“No, that’s it. That’s the whole thing.”

“Oh. I thought there’d be a hot sex scene with you and Jay. Just thinking how that would compare to Rick Dannister.” Dee’s eyes twinkled as she handed the script back.

Em laughed. “So, what can I do with this?”

Dee looked puzzled at the question. “Uh… nothing.” She responded as if the answer were obvious.

“Nothing?”

Dee flapped her hands. “Rick Dannister would have your hide if he knew you wrote this!”

“What? It’s homage!” Em flapped her hands in rebuttal. “Though I’m not so opposed to him having my hide.”

“Look…” Dee reached over and patted Em’s arm. “...It was fun. You got it out of your system. Just chuck it in a drawer and take it out for shits and giggles whenever you feel the need. In the meantime, go do all the things with Jay that you want to do with your fantasy boy.

“Jay’ll wonder what’s gotten into me.”

Dee tapped her temple. “Duh. Rick Dannister.”

***

Back at home in her office, Em slumped at her writing desk with a heavy heart. The script she had shared with Dee lay still on the table in front of her in its open folder. She liked what she had written. It held meaning, joy, and creativity, even if Dee didn’t approve. A disappointed sigh escaped her lips, though no one could hear it.

She switched on her computer and searched for Rick Dannister’s contact information. Her heart skipped a beat when she stumbled upon a fan mail address. She copied and pasted it into the header of an email.

“Dear Mr. Dannister…” she typed, “...I’ve written a screenplay inspired by your media and your work in various roles…” At the end of the letter, she closed with “Your fan forever, Em.” After attaching the screenplay, she hit *send.*

After packing the paper copy into its folder, she stuffed it among the other folders on her desk. She shut down her computer and turned out the light.

Read additional chapters of Big Screen Boyfriend here.

Chapter 1 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend

Chapter 2 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-2

Chapter 3 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-3

Chapter 4 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-4

Chapter 5 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-5

Chapter 6 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-6

Chapter 7 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-7

Read more books by Em S. A’cor HERE: https://www.emsacorbooks.com/

Em S. A’cor is an award-winning author of medical romance and Gen X romance. Get your heart thumping with her books, Twitter Crush and Twitter Flames. You’ll find her, coffee in hand, south of Pittsburgh, where she writes her books and takes on the world with her husband, daughter, and pet gecko.

Welcome to this short story of serial fiction.

When middle-aged Em falls for the alluring actor Rick Dannister, reality and fantasy parallel in unexpected and hilarious ways. From hot fox to hot flashes, the drama unfolds on page and on screen.

If you love Euphoria and Grey’s Anatomy, you’ll love Big Screen Boyfriend.

Big Screen Boyfriend

by Em S. A’cor

Chapter 3

In their ensuite bathroom, Em and Jay subconsciously choreographed their mornings like a fine-tuned ballet.

Em stepped out of the shower. “Could you hand me my towel?”

Standing at his sink, Jay interrupted the slathering of deodorant onto his armpits and casually handed her the panel of fluffy terry cloth.

“Thanks.” She wrapped it around herself and went to her sink. “So what are your plans for today?”

“Busy day,” he replied as he clipped his fingernails. “I have a meeting first thing this morning. Then office hours. Then consults at Jefferson.” He punctuated this by shoving a nose hair trimmer up a nostril.

After applying face cream to her wrinkles, Em flossed and brushed her teeth, spitting the frothy mess into the basin. Then she brushed her hair. After extracting a gnarly hairball from the bristles, she threw it away into the trashcan at Jay’s feet. He barely looked up from putting athlete’s foot cream between his toes.

“I’m meeting Dee after work.” Em sat on the edge of the jacuzzi tub and rubbed moisturizer into her cracked, calloused heels. “Could you pick up groceries on your way home? If they have something ready made for dinner, that would be awesome.”

“Sure.” Jay dashed to the closet to get dressed. “Do we need milk?” He returned in a shirt and calf-high, black support socks and ducked into the toilet. The bathroom acoustics amplified the sound of urine tinkling, but to Em it was only background noise.

“I think so.” Em swabbed earwax from her ears with a Q-tip and blew her nose. “I swear, Bea eats ten bowls of cereal a day.”

“Okay.” Jay pulled on his pants and buckled his belt. “I need to get going. I don’t want to be late.”

In their daily habit of seeing each other off, they pecked on autopilot.

“Okay. See you tonight.”

“See you tonight.”

After Jay left, Em clicked on her cell phone sitting on the vanity. She tapped on Instagram and watched clips of Rick Dannister as Dr. McSizzle in his megahit medical drama, Northwest Med.

***

At their usual table in the hotel lobby, Em and Dee sat across from each other. Em drummed her fingers on the short stack of paper in front of her.

Dee sipped from a Starbucks cup and glanced at Em’s tapping. “So, are you still obsessed with McSizzle?”

Em’s smile grew wide. “More than ever.” She tapped her fingers together, anxious to expound. “Take a look at this scene.” She called up a short video from Northwest Med on her phone and leaned over to share it with Dee.

***

In the classic clip, Rick Dannister, in his 40s, plays Dr. McSizzle. His rippling muscles, stubbled jaw, and dazzling eyes support the name. A knock at his door prompts him to answer.

On the other side, an attractive, 20-something female resident, Dixie, waits with an expectant and determined stance. She pushes her way in. McSizzle appears confused, and yet, slightly smitten.

“You were right,” Dixie starts, “The ventricles were enlarged on MRI with increased flow across the aqueduct. She has normopressure hydrocephalus. She’s in surgery getting a shunt.” She looks away with a sheepish expression. “Thanks for your help on rounds today.”

“That’s what attendings are for.” Even with this basic statement, McSizzle’s silky voice oozes charm. “What are you doing here?”

“I want you… to be my teacher.”

McSizzle shakes his head like he didn’t understand.

Dixie takes off her coat, her boots, and her sweater revealing a camisole underneath.

“Be my teacher.” She gently begs with her eyes. “You’re an incredible doctor… and man. I want to learn everything. Everything. And I want you to teach me.” Her skirt slides down her legs. “Please… be my teacher.”

“Dixie… don’t do this. I… I can’t. You’re the chief of staff’s daughter. I’m your attending. You’re practically an embryo.”

“Be my teacher.”

Conflicted, McSizzle licks his lips.

Dixie takes off her camisole and stands in front of him in only her bra.

Still, McSizzle hesitates.

Dixie blinks and looks discouraged. “Am I that bad?”

Looking her up and down, McSizzle swallows. “No. But I am.”

He rushes to her and kisses her passionately.

***

At the end of the scene, Em leaned back.

“Wow.” Dee ran a finger along her collarbone. “He earns his namesake.”

Em got a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “You know what else I found out? Around 2009, he got himself in a heap of hot water for his ‘sex tape.’” Em used air quotes to indicate the irony. “There was no actual sex. It was just him and Bex when they were still married and a high school friend of hers who became a Vegas showgirl. Seems they all got caught up when the Dannisters took a little trip to Sin City.”

Em punched at her cell phone screen to bring up the video. She stretched across again so that Dee could see.

***

In a Las Vegas hotel room, the voices of Rick, Bex, and showgirl Ginger accompany the initially motion-laden cell phone video. From Bex’s point of view behind the camera, she pans from Ginger, on the bed next to her smoking a joint, to Rick, posing in the buff in front of them.

His voice is sexy and seductive. “Nice of you to join us, Ginger. No one gives a shit if I walk around like this, right?”

He parades back and forth in front of the floor to ceiling windows with the lights of the Strip glowing beyond. He bends over at the coffee table to do a line of coke, displaying his magnificent ass.

The video cuts to a shaky selfie shot. Bex is still holding the camera, but the three of them are lying naked on the bed together. Their heads are together in a ring with their relaxed bodies splayed in different directions. Their eyes are glassy and unfocused.

The video then cuts to a jacuzzi full of bubbles. Now Rick mans the camera. Holding a cigarette, Bex gets into the tub. Ginger joins her and turns up the bubbles. She takes a hit off of Bex’s cigarette.

“You girls are the hottest thing this side of Las Vegas Boulevard,” Rick says in his husky, gravely voice. He pans from Bex’s boobs to Ginger’s. “And I know hot girls.” Rick focuses on Ginger. “As Bex’s friends go, you’re pretty cool there, Ginge.”

Ginger smiles and strikes up casual conversation. “You know, I still play with bath toys…”

At that point, the video abruptly stops.

***

Dee looked up with wide eyes. “Well, that’s interesting. I always though he’d have a bigger –”

“Drain stopper? I know.” Em brushed along her screen. “I gotta show you one more thing.” She tapped on another link. “Watch this entrance when he was on Helen.”

***

Rick Dannister walks onto the set of the Helen show. A friendly-looking talk show host with cropped brown hair stands in front of her armchair. Rick Dannister waves and flashes a debonaire smile to the audience full of women whistling and hooting. He gives Helen a kiss on the cheek. They sit down in their respective chairs.

“Well, hello, handsome.” Helen’s chipper lilt sounds welcoming and coquettish.

He returns the greeting, smooth and buttery. “Hello, gorgeous.”

***

Em clicked off the video. “Did you hear that?” She proffered her best Rick Dannister imitation. “Hello, gorgeous. I could just swoon.”

Dee rolled her eyes. “You are swooning.”

“It’s all very inspiring.” With a proud grin, Em handed Dee her script.

Dee scanned the top. “More of My Big Screen Boyfriend?”

Excited and satisfied, Em nodded as Dee started to read.

***

SCENE 3 -- INTERIOR SUBURBAN HOME

Em plops onto the couch with a bowl of popcorn. With a click of the remote, the opening of “Northwest Med” appears on the TV screen.

There’s a knock. She sets the popcorn aside and answers the door.

On the front step is RICK DANNISTER in scrubs as McSizzle, but reprising the role at his current age of 52.

EM

Ooohhh. You’re back.

RICK DANNISTER

Wouldn’t miss. What should we do this time?

EM

(cheeky, excited)

What do you think… about a bubble bath?

RICK DANNISTER

Let’s do it.

SCENE 4: INTERIOR, SUBURBAN HOME BATHROOM

Em sits in a jacuzzi-type tub as it fills with water and bubbles. She ogles a naked RICK DANNISTER outside of the tub standing in front of her.

RICK DANNISTER

You are the hottest thing this side of I-79.

Split screen: On the fantasy side, Em looks gorgeous, coiffed, styled, lounging in the bubbles. On the reality side, she’s frumpy, her hair’s up in a claw clip, and she has no makeup on.

EM

(waving him off)

Ha! Come on. I’m 57 now.

She points to her stretch marks, scars, and cellulite.

EM

Ain’t nothing hot about this no more.

RICK DANNISTER

(shaking his head in disagreement)

Oh, I know hot.

EM

(raising an eyebrow)

You’re the hotty… leaning into your fifties, and all. You know, I am only a few years older than your wife.

(winks)

Think I got a chance with you?

RICK DANNISTER

What wife?

Em smirks, and looks down at her body, and winces.

EM

Am I that bad?

RICK DANNISTER

(adamantly)

No!

He picks up a cell phone and starts taking video of

her.

RICK DANNISTER

But I am.

On the cell phone screen there is only the fantasy view. Em laughs and picks up a cigarette. Eric’s hand comes into frame with a lighter and flicks it on. Glamorous Em leans forward. The water cascades from her chest. The soap bubbles cover her like pasties. He lights the cigarette between her lips.

EM

I don’t smoke, but you can light me up any time. You always do.

He pours champagne into a crystal flute in her other hand. She leans back again and takes a sexy drag from the cigarette, followed by a swig of champagne with pouty lips.

Split screen: On the reality side, unglamorous Em gnaws on a carrot stick and sips herbal tea from a chipped mug.

She sets down the bubbly/tea and reaches for him.

EM

Come join me.

As soon as she makes contact with his beefy forearm, it pixelates.

RICK DANNISTER

(in the same voice as the Helen interview)

Easy, gorgeous. Let me get a few more shots of you.

She leans back, pensive, disappointed, but accepting.

EM

You’re going to have to go soon.

RICK DANNISTER

Mmm hmm.

He taps to stop the recording and suavely puts on a bathrobe. Unglamorous Em clumsily scrambles out of the tub and barely gets a towel around her to see him out. The water drips into puddles at her wet footsteps as she waddles after him.

EM

Will I see you again?

RICK DANNISTER

(sexy wink)

You know where to find me.

Em caves into a smitten heap.

EM

I do.

***

Dee rubbed her chin. “Your scenes are… inspired.”

Em beamed.

“Does Jay know how smitten you are?”

Wiggling her head back and forth, Em kinked her mouth with a smug twist. “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” She held out her hand to receive Dee’s writing. “And how did Vee-Dubs like the latest chapter of Maid in Leather?”

Dee handed over her papers with a wink. “Five stars. A real smash.”

Read additional chapters of Big Screen Boyfriend here.

Chapter 1 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend

Chapter 2 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-2

Chapter 3 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-3

Chapter 4 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-4

Chapter 5 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-5

Chapter 6 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-6

Chapter 7 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-7

Read more books by Em S. A’cor HERE: https://www.emsacorbooks.com/

Em S. A’cor is an award-winning author of medical romance and Gen X romance. Get your heart thumping with her books, Twitter Crush and Twitter Flames. You’ll find her, coffee in hand, south of Pittsburgh, where she writes her books and takes on the world with her husband, daughter, and pet gecko.

Welcome to this short story of serial fiction.

When middle-aged Em falls for the alluring actor Rick Dannister, reality and fantasy parallel in unexpected and hilarious ways. From hot fox to hot flashes, the drama unfolds on page and on screen.

If you love Euphoria and Grey’s Anatomy, you’ll love Big Screen Boyfriend.

Big Screen Boyfriend

by Em S. A’cor

Chapter 2

In the hotel lobby of the William Penn Hotel, Em flipped through the pages in her folder as she waited at the usual table for her writing partner, Dee.

They had been best friends since medical school at the University of Pittsburgh. They had been roommates, in fact. They went into different specialties and in different directions, only to find themselves back in Pittsburgh again in the middle of their careers. In an unexpected twist, they both found themselves writing to blow off steam and exercise their creative chops.

At first, Em found their monthly meeting place an odd choice. Historic. Ornate. Luxurious. Not the customary bohemian vibe she associated with writers. But she came to appreciate the anonymity of the grand hotel. People from all corners of the world came and went. She didn’t know them, they didn’t know her, and they would never see each other again. Anywhere else in town, she’d worry about running into a patient.

Plus, it was fun to people-watch in the hotel, to covertly observe, to make up stories with the guests as characters. All part of the creative process. Writing fuel.

For this meeting, though, Em had something specific to share unrelated to the travelers. She sipped on a venti flat white from the adjoining Starbucks. After flipping through the pages in front of her again, she checked her watch.

“Here I am!” Dee flitted into the lobby.

Em got up to hug her old friend. In some ways, she envied Dee – her platinum hair in a neat French twist, her waist nipped and tucked, her enhanced decolletage. To make peace with her age, Em indulged in makeup and hair dye, but nothing as extreme as Dee.

“Thanks for waiting. My last case ran long. You know I wouldn’t miss our writing chats.” Dee hugged Em back.

“No worries.” Em winked. “I’m glad I’m office based.”

“Oh! To be a rheumatologist. I knew you were on to something back in med school.”

“But you, roomie, are living the life, looking like a million bucks. Should have been a plastic surgeon like you. With colleagues who will practice their work on you for free.”

Dee framed her exaggerated boobs with her hands. “I only do this so I can play in the Riviera with my boy toy.” She sat down. “And write. Who would’ve guessed we’d end up writing together like a couple of old ladies? Whatcha got for me?”

Em pushed her folder across the table at Dee. “It’s new. Inspired by Rick Dannister. You know, McSizzle from Northwest Med?”

Dee read the title. “My Big Screen Boyfriend?” She leafed through.

Em pulled out her cell phone and clicked on a Rick Dannister photo. “Believe it or not, I wasn’t all that aware of him until the other night. I started watching Rocket 269, his scifi flick from like, 2014. And oh my God! Those abs! That chin! And he’s our age, you know? Okay, maybe just a few years younger, but still!” She showed the picture to Dee. “I think I’m in love.”

“Mmm. He is a sizzler.”

“I think I’ve clicked on every picture of him on the internet.” Em scrolled to a photo of him on the red carpet. “And here he is in 2010 with his then wife and girls.”

“Beautiful family. Isn’t that Bex Lescore? So gorge!”

“Yes! She’s actually two years older than him. And check this out.”

Em swiped her fingers across the screen to paparazzi snaps of Rick and Bex on a recent vacation. “They started the divorce process in 2018, but they’ve never officially divorced. This is them in January of 2022. They still go on vacation together!”

Photographers captured the 50-somethings disembarking their private yacht in Europe, hand-in-hand. Rick sported cargo shorts, flip flops, and a white t-shirt. His hair and goatee had grayed, and he had the beginnings of a paunch, but overall he looked muscular and fit. Beneath her windblown hair, Bex hid behind big sunglasses. Compared to the gala photos, she had put on some weight but still looked amazing. She wore a long, red beach coverup with a high slit. The wind billowed under her skirt, exposing her thigh.

Em tapped the picture to magnify Bex’s leg. “And she has cellulite! Rick Dannister is fucking a woman with cellulite! This gives hope to middle-aged women everywhere.”

Dee waved her hand. “Honey, this is why I’m in business. No one wants to accept what’s coming to them.”

Em smirked and put her phone away. She flattened her palms together and pointed at her script. “Take a look at what I’ve done.”

Dee tipped her head down to read.

***

SCENE 1 -- INTERIOR -- SUBURBAN HOME -- PITTSBURGH -- DAY

Em, a petite, middle-aged brunette with a hint of gray roots, big, brown eyes, and a cafe au lait complexion sits down on the couch in the family room. The walls are adorned with Pittsburgh memorabilia, school and family photos, and vacation mementos. A 25th anniversary keepsake throw adorns the back of the sofa. The space is neat and tidy.

Em picks up the remote.

Her teenage daughter, Bea, dashes by.

BEA

I’m late for practice!

Em looks perturbed and puts down the remote. Em’s husband, Jay, follows their rushing daughter. Wearing a quarter-zip sweater, he’s a suburban-handsome, middle-aged man with thinning hair and a thick midriff.

JAY

It’s okay. I’ll take her. My car’s out front already.

He pecks Em on the top of her head.

JAY

I’ll stop at the store after I drop her off. Text me if you want anything.

She smiles and nods as she watches them leave. Then, she picks up the remote again and clicks. On the large screen TV, the opening of the scifi flick “Rocket 269” with Rick Dannister looms. She smiles eagerly when the hunky actor comes on screen.

There’s a knock at the door. She leaps up to see who it is.

On the front step is Rick Dannister as his 51-year-old self with white hair, white t-shirt, shades, capri cargoes, and flip flops.

RICK DANNISTER

You ready?

EM

Can’t wait.

SCENE 2 -- EXTERIOR -- SUBURBAN HOME -- PITTSBURGH -- WINTER -- DAY

Split screen: Em puts on her winter coat on the front step. In a parallel fantasy universe, she puts on a long, red beach cover-up with the same motion. He brushes his hand along her back and ushers her to a waiting limousine. He opens the door for her.

RICK DANNISTER

I figure a little vacay’s in order. We’ll go straight to the dock.

With a smitten smile, Em gets into the limo.

Split screen: In the parallel reality, she gets into her car parked in the driveway.

On the fantasy side, she and Rick Dannister are at the railing of a yacht. He stands behind Em with his arms around her. Em’s hair whips in the sea breeze as the boat speeds through the ocean.

On the reality side, Em holds her own arms. With a hot flash, she leans her head out the rolled down window. Her hair whips in similar fashion in the winter wind.

On the fantasy side, she and Rick Dannister disembark the private vessel. With his arm around her, he guides her down the wide gangway onto a tropical island.

On the reality side, in a puffy winter coat, she walks along her front sidewalk toward the front door alone. Where there is sand on the fantasy side, there is snow on the reality side.

On the fantasy side, they step onto the sand in front of a beach bungalow.

On the reality side, Em steps onto her front porch. She turns to beach bum Rick, standing on the sand.

EM

(wistfully, pointing at the bungalow)

I’m going inside now.

RICK DANNISTER

I’ll be here.

With an infatuated sigh, she blows a kiss to the superstud and goes into the bungalow, which on the reality side is her front door.

***

Dee tapped her lip as she looked up from the words.

Em raised her eyebrows and leaned forward. “Well?”

“Mmm. So, how’s Jay? And Bea?”

“They’re fine. We’re just chugging along like everybody else. Work, school, soccer practice, rinse, repeat. Why?”

“I think you’re bored.”

“That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”

Dee blinked and smiled. “I think you’re on to something. Let me see more.”

Em leaned back and nodded. “Mm. What do you have for me?”

“The next chapter in Maid in Leather. Only the finest erotica for you, girlfriend.”

“Of course! I expect no less.” Em laughed. “And how’s your boy toy doing?”

“Vee-Dubs? Hot as hell. I’m going to read this to him tonight.”

Read additional chapters of Big Screen Boyfriend here.

Chapter 1 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend

Chapter 2 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-2

Chapter 3 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-3

Chapter 4 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-4

Chapter 5 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-5

Chapter 6 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-6

Chapter 7 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-7

Read more books by Em S. A’cor HERE: https://www.emsacorbooks.com/

Em S. A’cor is an award-winning author of medical romance and Gen X romance. Get your heart thumping with her books, Twitter Crush and Twitter Flames. You’ll find her, coffee in hand, south of Pittsburgh, where she writes her books and takes on the world with her husband, daughter, and pet gecko.

Welcome to this short story of serial fiction.

When middle-aged Em falls for the alluring actor Rick Dannister, reality and fantasy parallel in unexpected and hilarious ways. From hot fox to hot flashes, the drama unfolds on page and on screen.

If you love Euphoria and Grey’s Anatomy, you’ll love Big Screen Boyfriend.

Big Screen Boyfriend

by Em S. A’cor

Chapter 1

All Em wanted was a hot cup of coffee.

After a long day of seeing patients, she traipsed into the house, chucked off her shoes, and made a beeline for the Keurig. Even before her mug was full, the nutty, earthy smell revived her as the drips and puffs of steam sang their melodious, caffeinated tune.

With her piping beverage, she ambled into the family room, kicked the clutter and sports equipment out of the way, and plopped onto the sofa. She leaned back onto the 25th anniversary afghan draped over it.

The keepsake served as decoration and furniture protection, rather than a practical blanket for warmth. At this point, the fabric fixture blended in with the other assorted trappings that adorned the space – family pictures, school art projects, Steelers memorabilia – the souvenirs of suburbia.

She clicked the remote through a menu of options on the large screen TV across from the couch. What shall I watch? A drama? A comedy?

Disrupting her musings, her teenage daughter, Bea, came barreling down the stairs and into the family room. She threw her soccer bag on the floor, startling Em.

“Mom!” Bea’s braided pigtails flipped as she yelled. Even so, her eyes remained glued to her cell phone. “I’m late! You need to take me to practice.”

“Ugh. I totally forgot.” Em heaved a heavy sigh and set down her coffee and the remote. I guess this will have to wait.

Bea finally looked up and scoffed. Her upper lip curled with condescension. She cocked her head for emphasis. “It’s, like, literally your job.”

Em stood up in slow motion and put her hands on her hips. The anger at her entitled daughter bubbled from a simmer to a roiling boil. Her jaw clenched, and her face felt hot. She spoke slowly and clearly. “It is not my job. It is a privilege that you get a ride to practice. In fact, you should just walk. Maybe then you’ll appreciate how lucky you are.”

Em and Bea stared at each other with narrowed eyes.

A sound in the stairwell caught Em’s attention, but she stayed focused on her petulant daughter.

Em’s husband, Jay, entered but halted, as if he sensed the hornet’s nest he was stepping into.

“She’s late for practice.” Em’s words were curt and tense. “She expects me to take her, because apparently, it’s my job.”

Jay rubbed his hand over his bald head and exhaled. “Bea, why do you have to be like this? Could you appreciate your mom a little bit?” He grabbed his keys. “Come on. Go to the car.” He turned to Em. “It’s okay. I’ll take her.”

Em gave him a tight-lipped smile, conceding a glimmer of gratitude. Jay trudged after Bea out the side door to the garage, looking schlubby in his sweat pants and t-shirt.

Em crossed her arms and looked around. Catching a glimpse of herself in an ornamental mirror amongst the art and accouterments on the wall, she rubbed the furrow between her brows and smoothed back the slight sag in her cafe au lait cheeks. With her fingers, she combed her dark brown hair at the temples and harrumphed at the gray roots peeking through. She tossed an empty Amazon box with her toe and shook her head. Sinking back onto the couch, she clicked the remote.

With the house now quiet and still, she scrolled through the choices again and picked a movie at random. The screen lit up with Rocket 269, a mid-2010s scifi adventure starring Hollywood heartthrob, Rick Dannister.

Em sat up. She sipped her coffee as she studied the TV. The actor loomed larger than life with short golden hair, a chiseled jaw, and broad shoulders accentuated by his futuristic captain’s uniform. When he looked into the camera, his blue eyes sparkled like he was looking right at Em.

Her eyes bulged in return.

Read additional chapters of Big Screen Boyfriend here.

Chapter 1 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend

Chapter 2 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-2

Chapter 3 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-3

Chapter 4 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-4

Chapter 5 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-5

Chapter 6 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-6

Chapter 7 https://emsacor.substack.com/p/big-screen-boyfriend-chapter-7

Read more books by Em S. A’cor HERE: https://www.emsacorbooks.com/

Em S. A’cor is an award-winning author of medical romance and Gen X romance. Get your heart thumping with her books, Twitter Crush and Twitter Flames. You’ll find her, coffee in hand, south of Pittsburgh, where she writes her books and takes on the world with her husband, daughter, and pet gecko.