Page 64 of Director's Cut

I settle my gaze on Maeve. She’s looking at picture books again. Completely oblivious to the clusterfuck I’ve created around her. “I haven’t asked her yet.”

“Yeah, well, she’s going. Let her know.”

“Trish, I need more time to come up with a lead-in. She’s up for this really prestigious grant, and I don’t want this to interfere—”

“Then get your shit together and figure out what’s going to have to give.”

I exhale. I did make a deal with her. And the Oscars isn’t as big of a deal as the festival thing. Maybe we can even use it as a good stepping stone for the conversation about festivals. “Who am I presenting with?”

Maeve looks up then. She studies me for a moment before pulling another picture book off the shelf. I’m too far away to see the title, so I just focus on her neutral expression as she watches me. Neutral for now.

“Charlie, like you requested. That guy’s gonna owe you his career when he’s back on set.”

My chest aches; Charlie’s the one who got me the Needlepoint audition back before Stroke got all the award-season buzz. “I already owe him mine.”

We end the call, and my screen returns to the group chat with Luna and Romy. Guilt gnaws at my chest a little more. I shouldn’t keep what Trish said from Luna considering her stake in the movie. I send the information through to the group and stow my phone.

“You wouldn’t happen to know their favorite dinosaur, would you?” Maeve asks.

I don’t, and how dare my sister not tell us on the phone. I’m now getting a stabbing pain in my stomach, so strong it’s hard to focus on speaking or using fine motor skills. I need to focus.

I text Gwyn, swiping out of a surprisingly quiet group chat to do it.

She replies almost instantaneously. Oz loves…eerr they’re like water t-rexes? Lil loves stegos.

“What’s the water carnivore dinosaur called?” I ask Maeve.

Maeve shrugs. But we very easily locate oversize stegosaurus and whatever-the-water-ones-are-called stuffed animals to go with a handful of picture books. I pull out my credit card as we reach the cashier. I need to stop driving myself up a wall about the film festivals. I don’t have to screw Maeve over if we plan ahead. She might not be that mad about my not telling her earlier. It could all be okay.

“It’s called a plesiosaur,” the cashier says with a smile.

Well, thank god it wasn’t a dinosaur I should’ve known. I smile back. “Thank you. That would’ve bugged me all day.”

She hands back my credit card. “You two are really cute together, by the way.”

No recognizing me. No weird looks. Just a normal person looking at my normal person relationship and thinking it’s cute. Maybe I don’t hate Pasadena all that much after all. In fact, as we walk back to the car, I consider asking Maeve if she wants to go to another shop around here—a local coffee shop or the soda fountain down the block. But I don’t have time to say it out loud before we reach the parking lot.

I get into the car. Strap in. Set my phone in the charging dock, confirm Maeve’s strapped in. Turn the engine on. Going to a coffee shop is just a distraction. I need to tell Maeve about the Oscars, and I know I won’t do that unless we’re alone.

Then my phone starts chiming with notifications.

Maeve looks at it. “Here, I can read…”

No. No, no, no—

“No, it’s okay,” I say. The words come out like a plea for help. Too little too late.

“Luna Roth is asking when you’ll get more news,” Maeve says.

Luna wasn’t specific. Holy shit, Luna, thank you. “Thanks.”

She sets the phone back, eyes bright. “Anything worth sharing?”

Okay, this is my window. “Just Oscars stuff. Charlie and I are presenting.” No one would turn down the Oscars. I’ve had dozens of women beg me to bring them to the Oscars. “You’re welcome to come as my plus one, by the way.”

I wait, mentally begging for a yes.

I wait, but there’s only silence. My stomach tightens as I focus harder on the road. Grip tighter on the steering wheel.

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