Page 25 of Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance

I had the chance, early in my career, to do the New York scene instead. I met a playwright who had gotten a backer and wanted me for his lead. He ended up penning a well-reviewed production that had a multiyear run.

But my father pulled strings to get me an agent and a manager, and I was promised a role in a comedy. All the players involved were Hollywood regulars, so as long as I did a good job and handled myselfon the set, I would have connections that would lead me from one project to another.

And it worked, my first character leading to a stronger part that landed me a supporting role, and then my first headliner.

After that, it tanked as fast as it rose.

I shove those thoughts away. They’re interfering with the peace of my view.

I park at one of the roadside stops to step out and take it all in. It’s midafternoon, and the clouds break the sunlight in long, straight beams.

My shoulders unknot, and I exhale in a slow, even breath.

I could put together a crew. None of my male friends are close, but they’re good enough for a guys’ trip. I could choose from actors on our roster, the ones still trying to get a solid break.

Add a few of the bit players from back in the day, the ones I keep in contact with. The big shots are unlikely to take a call from me. They stayed in the game.

I lean against the side of the Jag, ready to look at itineraries, when my phone serves up an old photo, a memory from two years ago.

It’s Kelsey, looking harried, and none too pleased I’m taking her picture as she packs a pile of folders in a box after a long day of auditions. She was new and unaccustomed to those long days.

We don’t do casting marathons anymore, using self-tapes and highlight reels to push our selections.

But that day was a doozy, and I pitched in to help the three of them, plus two temps we hired to help with check-in and flow.

Her hair is half in her face, and she’s clearly exhausted. But the glint in her eye as she dares me to take that shot is pure Kelsey. I don’t know why I did it. Maybe to tweak her. Maybe I already understood who she would become.

And now she’s out in the world, all alone, trying to wrangle her one true love.

I can’t leave the country, not even for a day.

In fact, I should be closer.

Much closer.

I pull up her texts from earlier. Didn’t she say where she was?

Bris-something or another.

I head to Google Maps to figure out her route. There’s Barstow, but that’s not very far. She surely got more miles down than that.

Then I spot it. Briston. It’s about five hours out, off the interstate on a small highway. Definitely a candidate for tumbleweeds.

That’s where she is.

But will she stay put?

No. She surely kept going.

It’s three o’clock. She’ll stop for the night somewhere. I follow the most likely trajectory of her journey. She’ll be close to the Arizona border, and knowing Kelsey, she’ll make that a goal.

I can take a more direct path and be only about six hours behind her. While she’s sleeping, I can catch up.

There will a problem at some point with my own sleep, but I’ll worry about that when the time comes.

Right now, I need to grab some basics and hit the road.

Oh, and let Jester know I’m going without him sayingI told you so.

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