long hallway, passing one historic McAllister moment after another, it steadily blossomed. Her body hummed with a slow-growing excitement that started somewhere in her midsection and radiated out.
An adventure was about to begin, and this time, she wasn’t Lauren Prescott, standing with her clipboard on the sidelines. She was part of it. As she reached the end of the hallway, she had to steady herself. The smile reached its full bloom as she allowed the understanding to settle.
A dream was about to come true. She was an actress again.
* * *
When Carly’s alarm went off at seven thirty, she wanted more than anything to hurl it across the room and put out a hit on the clock and all its distant relatives. Instead, she remembered the new leaf she’d decided upon. “One foot on the floor,” she mumbled, and slowly made the request a reality. Now, as she lay there, half off the bed with the bottom of one foot touching the floor, she had to figure out how to get the other one there, too. “Not just yet,” she said to her ceiling and let her eyes slowly close again. “Just three minutes. I just need three.”
Once they passed, she blinked. “Two feet on the floor.” She slid the second leg out, banishing it from the warmth of the covers and placed it flat on the floor next to the other one. Now only her body remained in bed, perpendicular and clinging to slumber like a life raft in a storm at sea. “Gotta sit up,” she whispered in defeat, but damn it, she made it happen. This whole routine was a production, yes, but for two straight mornings in a row, it’d worked. She’d not been late, and the day had been better for it. She’d also been afforded some extra time with just Lauren, and that made it all worthwhile. Lauren was so much more pleasant when the two lines between her eyes weren’t creased and angry. Carly sighed, naked and wrapped in her snuggly comforter, because those little lines were actually really cute, too.
She could admit it. She was more than smitten with Lauren Prescott, and she’d thought about that sexy stage kiss nonstop since yesterday. Yes, it had been Mandy and Ashley, and she knew the difference, but the physical chemistry had been all theirs. Carly didn’t know if what they’d shown Ethan would give him the motivation to actually talk to Evelyn, or maybe even let her see Lauren perform the scenes in person. God, if only uptight Evelyn could see how likable Lauren was as Mandy, how funny and kind. She didn’t know the protocol for those kinds of practices in the theatrical world, but she hoped for her own career’s sake that yesterday hadn’t been for nothing.
Two hours later, she stood in the rehearsal hall, iced coffee secured—without being late, mind you—waiting on Ethan. Lauren and Trip were behind the stage manager’s table passing a lot of pages back and forth and nodding. Evelyn was still out, apparently, which was great for at least one more rehearsal with someone else.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Ethan said, breezing into the room with a noticeable extra spring in his step. “Lots to do today, but first a brief announcement.” All eyes were on him. Heads quirked. Glances were exchanged. “There’s been a change to our cast. Effective today, the role of Mandy in Starry Nights will be played by Lauren Prescott. Trip will be our new production stage manager, and Janie will join him tomorrow as assistant. You’ll meet her then.” The room was silent for a moment. Carly’s gaze flew immediately to Lauren, who smiled demurely at the table, continuing to work and avoiding all eye contact. Finally, when she did look up, it was straight back at Carly, who sent her the biggest smile of encouragement. This was better than anything she’d hoped for. Carly couldn’t believe it. Her toes were numb and she wanted to jump up and down. They’d given Lauren the role? Unable to take it, she raced across the room to Lauren, as the rest of the company chatted quietly in shock.
“I don’t believe it. This is fucking awesome,” Carly whispered, her arms around Lauren.
“Is it?” Lauren asked.
“Yes! You’re in the show now. You’re starring in the show, Lauren. Do you get that? Why didn’t you call me?”
“I just found out.” Lauren smiled. Her usual confidence didn’t shine through, however. “And I didn’t really see this coming. Yet here I