Page 33 of Under Ground

Clutching my phone to my ear, I raise my face to the sky and whisper a thank you. “You have a lot of faith in me.”

“Well, I’m not sure how I’ve done it, but I scored this amazing guy who also happens to be an incredible actor.”

I chew on my bottom lip before I hit her with the next part. “Reece Evans delivered the news personally.”

“Oh, no way.”

“Yeah. So, he’s asked me out to dinner tonight. He’s here with his girlfriend.”

“Reece Evans has a girlfriend?”

I chuckle. “Yes. Her name’s Pania. Anyway, I’m calling to see if you want to come with me.”

There’s silence for a moment.

“Lana, it’s okay if you can’t. I know getting a babysitter is difficult, especially at late notice. And if you can’t come, I’ll drop by your place afterward to see you.”

“I’d like that.” Her voice is breathy. I’m so crazy about this woman, and I want her—really want her. We’re so close to taking that next step, and there are times when it’s all I think about.

She’s who I want to share this moment with.

For now, I have one more phone call to make.

Mom takes a while to answer—she always does. I’m not even exactly sure where she is right now. A while ago she cashed in everything she had and started travelling. So far, she’s not left the US, but there seems to be a lot she wants to see in our country before going overseas.

I’m not sure where she’ll live or what she’ll do when she runs out of money. But my mom is like a cat and has more than one life, I’m sure.

“Alex. It’s so good to hear from you. Are you in New Zealand? What’s it like? Are they feeding you properly?”

All that before I can catch my breath to speak.

Mom has boundless energy. She’d have been a hippy if we’d lived in the seventies, with her lust for life and carefree attitude. I’m the responsible one out of the two of us.

“I am, Mom. And it’s amazing. I’m calling to let you know I got that part I wanted.”

“The one in the Reece Evans film?”

I’m not sure what it is, but from the moment I told her I’d auditioned and how badly I wanted the role, she’s called it that. I think she’s got a crush on him, which is awkward to think about, but typical of Mom.

“Yes. This is it, Mom. This could be my big break.”

“Oh, Alex. I’m so proud of you.”

“I know.”

Mom was the one who encouraged me to pursue acting. She knew I wanted to, but I’d held back because I thought I had to be the one who went out to support us—and acting wasn’t going to do that.

Or so I’d thought at the start.

But she signed me up for acting classes, and then encouraged me to audition for a TV show which I did six months of before moving into movies. I’m no household name, but if my mom had anything to do with it, I would be.

“Anyway, I just wanted to give you a call and let you know. I haven’t even spoken to my agent yet,” I say.

“Well, congratulations.” She sighs. “And you get to work with Reece Evans. That will be wonderful.”

I roll my eyes and shake my head. “I’m sure it will be. Love you, Mom.”

“Love you too.”

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