Chance Encounter - Jerry Cole

Chapter One

Hayden

“I am having a party at my place, and you must come, Hay.” Becca implored me with her dark eyes, and I rolled mine.

“You know it’s opening night of HSM,” I reminded her as she sighed.

“Come over after. Please.” We were at the coffee shop around the corner from The Tower Theater since we both had to work later, and I sipped my cold brew.

“I’ll try. You’re lucky to have the night off,” I told her as she smiled. Becca was dating a girl that lived in San Diego, and they only saw each other when someone traveled. That was the reason she asked for the night off. The party just ended up being planned after that.

“I see Mari a few times a month if I’m lucky, ass.” Becca glared at me, and I laughed. “I have to ask for the night off to accomplish that.” She smiled at me. “Mari wants to see you.”

“I’ll try. You know how crowded opening nights are with the meet and greet. Everyone just stands around and talks forever. I’m the closer, so I leave last.” I shrugged and glanced at the smartwatch on my wrist. “Shit. Speaking of work, we need to hurry.”

“Ugh.” Becca grabbed the napkins and tossed them as I grabbed our drinks. We left the courtyard and walked down the street to the completely renovated theater that was booming right now. It reopened three months ago, and I helped in every step of that. I got Becca the job at the popular coffee stand in the lobby, and now we worked together, and sometimes lived together if I stayed at her place. That was often, particularly since I broke up with Ryan a month ago.

She was the sister I never had, and since my conservative family lived out in Ohio, nearly the only family I had around here.

Tonight was a musical, and it would be crowded with seniors from the nearby nursing homes. They got group discount tickets and came on Tuesdays. It would be a busy night, and Becca would serve a lot of coffee all evening long.

She pulled a clip out of her purse and wound her curls into a rough twist before pinning it back. Becca hugged me, and I leaned down to further insult her small five-foot three frame. “Have fun tonight!” She told me before we walked in and separated to go to our sections. I did a lot around the building, and tonight, I’d be taking tickets and working as an usher to cover for someone who was sick.

“Yeah. I’ll get right on that,” I responded as I went to clock in. I entered the will-call office and smiled at the women getting ready for the crowd. “Good evening, ladies.”

“Hi, Hayden.” They replied as I leaned over to clock myself in. “Ready for tonight?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I told them, eying the amount of will call tickets that was clear on the screen. “You’d think it was opening night.”

“This is a popular play. It’s a mix of people watching it tonight.” Helen shot me a smile, and I chuckled. “Britt has the snack bar with Tom, and we can either handle this or sell tickets at the window. It’s up to you.”

“I’m good with selling. I am also going to usher for Lisa since she’s off tonight.” I raised my eyes and looked across the lobby to see everyone hard at work.

“She needs to be fired. She’s always off.” Tina clicked her tongue, and I fought the urge to laugh.

“You’re not wrong, but she’s the owner’s cousin. I don’t see that happening. I’d fight if Becca got fired.” I smiled at my best friend as she set up a large coffee pot.

“Becca works. There’s a difference,” Helen defended her, and I gave her a grateful smile.

I took the ticket window when people started to line up, armed with a list of tickets available to sell. I greeted everyone as they approached, selling groups of tickets as we got closer to showtime. Once every seat was gone, I flipped the closed sign forward and shut the lights off. I passed Becca, and she held up a cup.

“Thank you,” I told her as she grinned at me. I had a place I hid it in while ushering, and then I could watch from the hallway as I drank the coffee. I liked to be close to help anyone out that needed it, and I could watch these plays every night. If I wasn’t performing,

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