Page 104 of Sizzle Reel

For the first time in what feels like an eternity, I look around the café. There are people in here now, and some are annoyed, looking at their watches. But I recognize Jared from talent. He’s beaming, giving me a thumbs-up.

“It’s about fucking time!” he says, louder than he needs to.

I still wince, but the embarrassment doesn’t last long. Because shit, it is about fucking time.

“I’m gonna spit in your drink if you yell any louder!” Romy replies.

Jared laughs. “Don’t think I won’t get you fired, Fonseca.”

“Please do! I don’t get good tips here. I’d rather work the deli counter at Erewhon in Calabasas.”

“Either way,” Jared says. “I love it.”

He holds his fingers up and forms a heart. I squint at him a moment before the warmth washes over me.

He’s framing us.

I move closer to her, take her hand. Her soft hand, covered in rings. I rub my thumb over her knuckles. A perfect fit.

She takes a deep breath and smiles. “This is so wild.”

I kiss her cheek, just to try it out. I can’t wait to try all the different kinds of kisses on her. “It’s a cinematic moment. And you attract it.”

As Valeria and I return to her car, there’s serenity in the air. We’ve both accomplished something. Something big. Something that I never thought I’d be able to do. Julia sometimes talks about how humans can adjust to a new normal, even a life-changing new normal, quickly. It’s a survival mechanism, but it can ultimately prevent people from ever stepping back and appreciating things. And up close, the toll going back in the closet has taken on Valeria is clear as day. Her appearance is immaculate…save the red and puffy eyes. There’s no way to hide the fact that she’s been crying.

“How’d it go?” I ask.

She smiles. “He’s been fired.”

I beam. “Val, that’s—”

She holds up her hands, forming a heart. “I’m guessing your thing went well?”

“It went amazing.”

And right now, I’m enjoying it.

“What happens next for you?” I ask her.

Valeria rubs her hands together. “Next I take meetings with my hopefully new manager, and we work on culling everyone who didn’t want me out. After that, I guess I hope I’m not unemployed and can make my house payments.”

“In all seriousness, Steven Wells is an idiot. He never deserved you.”

She cracks a smile. “For the record, Alice didn’t deserve you either. How’s the job hunt going?”

“A lot of applying for little productions. I’m trying to get proper experience for a real first A.C. job in case a bigger gig comes along. I’m also simultaneously applying to jobs in movie theaters in order to keep the rent money flowing.”

“I swear you’ll make it. Pushing you and Brendan through the system is like telling an eight-year-old to watch an infant, and it’s still going pretty well, all things considered.”

“Just invite me to the premiere.”

“Okay, but you’ll have to bring Romy so no one starts rumors about us dating and uncovers that we actually do have history.” She pauses. “Although we could get good money for all the footage we have together, if you really need to stay out of your parents’ house.”

Bringing Romy to a premiere. It’s a strange, far-off dream, but I’m one step closer to it being my reality. It gets my heart fluttering.

I laugh. “Are you serious?”

She goes stone-faced. “No. Don’t you dare sell footage.” But a smile breaks through.

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