so much more to the character than even I saw,” he said and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Amazing work today. I know you’re not someone who auditions anymore, and I want to thank you for doing this for me. This has been just fantastic. My brain is firing.”
“I’m glad. It felt good,” she said. “I love everything about the script.”
“It’s a smaller role than you’re used to, but meaty as fuck, and I want to really highlight the character’s contribution to the main’s arc. Plus, there’s the whole shock factor of this scene that is going to have people talking once the reveal happens. You don’t see her admission coming.”
“I didn’t, when I read the script.”
He ran a hand over his stubble. “I can see you really killing this. It’s exciting. This has been good.” He looked to his casting director, still seated at the table, and nodded.
Carly felt relief rise up in her chest, and she couldn’t stop smiling. She placed a hand on her chest. “I feel the same way. Honestly, for me, it’s not about the size of the role, it’s about the character.”
“Totally.” He held out his arms for a hug, which she reciprocated. “Thanks for this, Carly. You were amazing, as you always are. Big fan. We’ll be in touch.”
“I look forward to it. Thanks, Rick.” She waved to the group at the table and grabbed her bag. When she emerged onto the studio lot, she raised her shoulders to her ears and took a deep breath. For the first time in weeks, Carly felt like things just might be okay. She popped her sunglasses onto her face and headed home. Maybe she’d pick up a couple of iced coffees to surprise Lauren. After that, maybe they’d get dressed up and go some place fancy, romantic, and picturesque. She had something to celebrate.
* * *
The restaurant Carly had picked out for them was breathtaking. The Orchard Inn Restaurant was just what it sounded like, a little restaurant nestled inside an inn located on an actual apple orchard. Lauren had no idea such a combination existed and had never seen anything like it. It felt like they were having dinner in the most romantic of storybooks. She’d even worn the pretty red dress and her favorite silver bracelet to make her feel fancy.
“I love you in red,” Carly said. “Not that I don’t like you in every color.”
“I accept the compliment.” Lauren lifted her glass of Bordeaux in the soft candlelight. It had to be the most expensive wine she’d ever tasted, and it showed. She touched her glass lightly to Carly’s. “I missed you today. I’m glad we’re doing this.”
Carly’s blue eyes sparkled, and matched the dress she’d selected for dinner perfectly. “I feel the same way. We were on opposite schedules all day, so I wanted to spend some time together.” She looked around. “I haven’t been here in years. It’s a little known LA secret.”
Their set menu for the evening, which Lauren was told by the server changed nightly, was New York strip with pepper cognac sauce, creamed spinach, and poblano macaroni and cheese. For dessert, they’d have bananas Foster butter cake with a petite chocolate milkshake. It really was a fairy tale.
It felt wonderful to be somewhere so quaint, so charming. Lauren’s day had gotten away from her. When she’d stepped into her callback for a bit part on an action movie, the casting director had taken a good hard look at her. After her reading, which she honestly felt she’d bombed, the woman met her in the hallway. “Do you have time for one more? I can’t help but wonder if you might be right for a hard-to-cast project. Something very different from this one.”
“Um, sure. Of course.” She checked her watch and realized it was now late in the afternoon. How had that happened?
The woman scribbled some directions on the back of her business card. “You’re looking for an office building three down from this one. I’ve messaged ahead and they’re expecting you. But hurry, because they’re wrapping up for the day and have agreed to squeeze you in.”
“Okay. Great. I appreciate it.”
Lauren quickly read a text from Carly about iced coffees as she scurried across the lot, halfway wanting to ditch the additional audition and join Carly at home instead for that iced latte poolside. Yet she reminded herself that she’d come to LA for an exploratory mission, and she needed to use her time to do