Lauren sat back in a huff. “It’s not like I can help it. You saw me this morning. I was a mess.”
“First day nerves. You just gotta get past ’em, and tell yourself how awesome you are. Say it. Right now.”
“I’m awesome,” Lauren said, in the most underwhelming voice possible.
“No, you’re not. You’re lame. Say it again.”
“I’m incredibly awesome.”
“Better. But I want to feel it here.” Carly placed a hand over her heart. “I can help. You’re awesome at interacting with people. Organizing things.”
“That one is true. I’m like the Marie Kondo of theater.”
Carly continued her list. It honestly wasn’t hard thinking of things Lauren excelled at. “Pool. Multitasking. Creating likable characters onstage.”
“Thank you for that. I needed to hear that.”
“Making people feel important. Kissing.”
Lauren blinked at her, opened her mouth and closed it. Her cheeks pinked up until she was a rosy shade of adorable. “Should we let that one go?”
“If you want,” Carly said, casually. She loved affecting Lauren in any way she could. It was her favorite new pastime. That blush was worth its weight in gold, and now Carly was all hot and bothered. “Doesn’t change the fact that I believe it. I’ve had multiple opportunities now to find out.” She took a sip of her Diet Coke. “Stop me if I’m out of line, but you have really nice lips.”
Lauren didn’t say anything for a moment or two, and Carly gave her that space. “So do you,” she said finally, with a shy grin.
“And you really know how to use them.” Carly slid the rest of the fries to Lauren. The rosy cheeks remained.
“You make my head get a little crazy when you say things like that.”
“You’re not my stage manager anymore, you know.”
“I know.”
“Does that…change the rules at all? Can I file some kind of official request with a union to flirt with you on occasion?” She made a show of glancing around the bar for a spot to do just that.
Lauren smiled. “I can admit that there’s…something indescribable there.”
“Lust,” Carly said matter-of-factly.
Lauren choked on a fry. Carly laughed and handed her a pile of napkins. “I was just kidding. Well, only kind of.”
Lauren finally swallowed and rebounded. “Sorry. Wasn’t expecting that. Man, you just get right to it, don’t you?”
“Life is short, Lauren. I happen to like living it.”
“I don’t live life that much,” Lauren said to her drink. “I was going to take a vacation. My first one in years. In fact, I’m supposed to be on a beach in the Caribbean right now. Instead I’m starring in a major production and having lunch at a bar with a very famous movie star.” She shook her head and smiled. “I’m not complaining.”
“Neither am I. I’m at Put Upon Pete’s in Minneapolis with the most intriguing woman I’ve ever met. Also, the most beautiful.”
“Oh, look at you, working it hard.” Lauren laughed.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.” Carly glanced at her watch. “Shall we? We need to allow five minutes for the drive and another five to pay our bill. Listen, I wouldn’t want you to be late. Good thing you have me to look out for you.”
Lauren gasped. “Is this the Upside Down? What is happening? Where’s the starlet I came here with?”
“She could be the one you go home with,” Carly said, with another playful wink.
“Carly!” Lauren covered her eyes.
Carly chuckled to herself as she paid the bill. “Drink that.” She slid the untouched shot toward Lauren. “It will get you out of your head and through your first day. Our little secret.”
With a dramatic sigh, Lauren downed the shot with one gesture at the same time that old eighties song “You Give Love a Bad Name” blared through the speakers. Sexy as fucking hell and entirely apropos.
“This was a good lunch,” Carly said, marveling.
“Agreed.” Lauren smiled. “C’mon. Let’s get back to work.”
The rest of rehearsal had to be the most satisfying four hours Carly had spent in her entire acting career. Lauren opened up, bringing all kinds of levels to Mandy, which only inspired Carly’s own emotional creativity. Under Ethan’s guidance, they tried one approach, then another. As the day went on, Ethan released each cast member individually, until only Lauren and Carly remained. That’s when they really dug in and made one fruitful discovery after another. Carly laughed, cried, and lost herself in Ashley, leaving her a satisfied bundle of excitement by the end of rehearsal.