chemo session was over and tearing up a few headshots from wannabe actors would help her feel better anyway.
“It’s a no,” Jeffrey says crisply, glancing my way.
“We’ve identified great people for four characters,” I point out.
“But not the leads.”
“There’s another group after lunch, right?” I ask our production assistant.
She shakes her head.
Shit. “I could’ve sworn there were more…” I riffle through the papers in front of me.
Jeffrey sighs. He’s done this a dozen times before, but I can tell he’s disappointed. “We don’t have a lead, we don’t have a show. Frankly, I’m concerned you’re in such a hurry to distance yourself from it.”
“It’s not that. I love this show more than I thought I’d love anything,” I promise. “But there’s something—someone—I love even more.”
His face unreadable, he gets up and reaches for his phone, hitting a contact as he heads down the aisle.
We’ve thrown ourselves into preparing for this.
I figured today would be more like a victory lap, but it’s turning out to be hell. How can it be so hard to find the right person?
“Knock, knock.” Elle sticks her head in the door before coming into the theater bearing a brown paper bag.
“Is that something to numb the pain?” Miranda asks dryly as Elle stops next to our row.
“Hoagies,” my roommate explains.
“That’ll work.”
“You want Annie’s too?” Elle asks, passing them out. “She likes the pain. It’s cleansing.”
I shoot my friend side-eye. My phone buzzes, and I glance at it. There’s a text from my dad, and the tension in my chest eases just a little.
I walk toward a dark corner and hit his contact, and he picks up on a video call.
“Thought you had auditions this weekend,” he says.
“We do. We’re at a theater right now.” I flip him around to see the space, then back to see me. “Unfortunately, we haven’t found the right actors yet.”
He frowns. “Don’t give up. Sometimes the best things come from the last place you expect. Like Tyler finding Shay. Her single releases next week.”
“That’s great, Dad.” I swallow. “Have you talked to Tyler? I sent him something a few days ago, and I hoped I’d hear back by now.”
My dad’s expression shifts, and I can’t read the strange look on his face. “I think he misses you.”
The backs of my eyes burn, and I’m glad I’m in a dark corner. “I miss him too. Well, I should get back to it.”
Dad nods. “We’re proud of you. All of us. Let us know how your casting goes.”
“I will.”
I hang up and head back toward Miranda, who has already unwrapped a sandwich and is in conversation with Elle.
“I want to do this show where the audience sits on stage and I’m watching them from the floor,” Elle’s saying, and Miranda’s studying her with a raised brow.
They both look at me when I return, and Jeffrey comes back down the aisle.
“We have one more to see.”
“Who?” I ask, frowning. Every headshot in front of me is familiar. We’ve seen each of these people on stage already today.
But Elle stiffens next to me, grabbing my arm. “Holy shit.”
Someone walks past us up the aisle. I lift my head slowly, tingles starting low in my stomach and spreading to my arms, my legs, my toes.
The man takes the stairs to the stage as if this were his house, not an audition. He’s confident, relaxed, in dark jeans and a shirt rolled up at the sleeves to reveal swirls of black ink.
Tyler hits center stage and turns to face us. I’m so floored it takes a moment for me to catch up when his gaze meets mine.
Jeffrey shifts into the seat next to me. “Well?”
I blink. “Well what?”
“Go with him.”
I shift out of my seat, nearly forgetting the book before I trip toward the stage, take the steps, and cross to Tyler. I stop in front of him.
Even under the lights, he takes up the stage, takes up the room.
“What are you doing?” I shake my head in disbelief. I’m so happy he’s here I almost don’t want to know the answer.
“I’m auditioning. You sent me a script.”
My jaw hits the floor. “I wanted you to read it. I wasn’t asking you to audition.”
His mouth twitches. “You should’ve been more specific.”
“But…” My mouth works, nothing coming out. “You can’t be auditioning on Broadway.”
“Someone told me you don’t need your hands to make good music. That it can come from your head and your heart.”
Tyler cuts an expectant look toward my colleagues. Jeffrey folds his arms, and Miranda