again I shivered. He was becoming more free with his laughter, with his smiles, too, and it made me happy to see him opening up to people. “True. Well, anyway, the other answer to that question is Singin’ in the Rain.”
Troy let out a big, boisterous chuckle. “For real? How do you go from gritty East End reality to a fluffy 1950s musical?”
Damon’s expression was calculating. “I have a close friend who’s crazy for Gene Kelly. As a challenge, I’d like to remake the film and have her admit I did better than the original,” he answered, his eyes flicking to mine for a brief moment. They held a mischievous glint, and I knew he was goading me. No way, I mouthed at him as I shook my head. Gene was a mainstay in my heart. As far as I was concerned, remaking any of his films was sacrilege. Still, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
“That’s some undertaking, but there’s only one problem,” said Troy, still chuckling away.
“And what’s that?”
“You’re too tall for a Gene Kelly role.”
Damon smiled, and I swore it was my undoing. “If Hugh Jackman can play Wolverine, then I can play Don Lockwood.”
Troy cast him a confused glance. “Who in the what now?”
“Wolverine is a five-foot-three Canadian played by a six-foot-two Aussie,” Damon explained. “Anything is possible.”
“I don’t believe you,” said Troy, glancing over his shoulder to call to his assistant. “Go Google if that’s true.”
The assistant came in with a tablet and handed it to Troy. He stared at the screen, scrolling through a web page. “Well, bugger me, you’re right,” he exclaimed. “Okay, I think this has been my favourite interview all year. We’ve gone from burlesque shows to gritty independent films to 1950s musicals to Marvel comics.”
“I like to keep things interesting,” said Damon.
“Well, goal achieved. So, how about we take a few questions from some callers?”
“By all means.”
About fifteen minutes later the segment was over, and Damon emerged through the studio door. I gushed at him, telling him how great he’d been. He’d answered all the caller questions with finesse and charm, and I couldn’t get over the change in him. If you’d asked me two months ago whether or not I thought he would’ve become so confident in his social skills, I’d have answered a definitive no. He’d come so far and I was so, so proud.
The car was there again to take us home, but on the ride I got a call from Farrah asking me to drop by her place because she wanted to measure me for a couple of costumes. I told her it was no problem before hanging up and proceeding to have a panic attack. Focusing on Damon and his radio interview had taken my mind off the impending doom of facing my stage fright.
His hand covered my shaking one as I slipped the phone back in my bag.
“Still feeling like you’re going to vomit every time you think of Friday?” he asked softly, and I was surprised by how spot-on he was. Thinking of going on stage had me petrified and wanting to spew my guts up. Yes, lovely imagery.
“It’s scary how you notice stuff sometimes,” I said, and he gave me a warm look.
“I notice everything about you, Rose.”
I blushed and glanced away. “Do you think the driver might be able to drop me off at Farrah’s? She needs to take some last-minute measurements.”
Damon moved forward and asked the driver to take a detour, and a few minutes later I was out of the car and waving him goodbye.
Once I was done at Farrah’s, I got the tube home. When I arrived back at the flat the place was empty, so I assumed Julian had either gone out to meet with friends or he had an appointment with a client. The idea of it being the latter made me both relieved and disappointed. I didn’t want him to be depressed, not ever, but at the same time I held out hope that this whole thing with Alicia might cause a change in him, make him want something different for himself.
I slept fitfully that night, waking up at around one or two to the sound of voices in the living room. It was Julian, but he was talking to someone. A woman. I crept out of bed and listened at my door, which I’d left slightly ajar. It only took me a moment to recognise Alicia’s voice.
What the hell was she doing here?
I