Page 5 of Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance

She’s made more than one person redo a self-tape to ensure they put their best effort out there. Heck, she’s gone to their roach-infested apartments to record their tests and help them nail a part that can get them their shot. She studies the various directors’ aesthetics and is incredibly good at delivering what they want.

She glances around. “Do you think we can sneak out? I want to go look up Gayle’s history and find the right headshot. I could present it to Desdemona Monday morning, while she’s high on finding Jason.”

“We could. But maybe have a little fun first.”

“Fun? Here?” She lets out a huffy laugh.

“I have an idea.”

I definitely have an ulterior motive as I steer Kelsey toward a shadowy corner of the party.

Chapter 3

KELSEYSEEKSHERFORTUNE

Zachery holds my arm lightly as he leads me away from the crowd to a quieter spot.

This is a good move. We can escape Desdemona without actually leaving. I’d rather work on a laptop, where I can pull up histories and open multiple windows, but my phone will do, as long as she doesn’t catch me. Desdemona gets incredibly angry if she spots me staring at my screen at an official function.

We wander away from the tables and end up in a quiet corner, where a bored-looking woman in a flutter of gold scarves sits in front of a fake crystal ball.

“Oh, look,” Zachery says. “Should we find out what our futures hold?”

“By an actress?” I whisper, not wanting to insult her to her face. But even so, this is one terrible gig, especially if you’re seen by industry influencers. They’ll remember.

“I hear she’s the real deal.” Zachery leads me forward.

I’m not sure about that. Lots of actors take any work they can to keep the dream alive. “Do we have to?”

“It looks like she could use a customer.”

He’s right. And I’m a sucker for someone who is faltering in public.

I sit in the red-cushioned chair opposite the woman. “Tell me my future.”

She adjusts her scarves as she lifts her arms.

“Such a lovely young woman,” she says with a gravelly voice. “Someone beautiful enough to be on the screen, but sensible enough to stay out of the fray.”

Okay. Score one for her background knowledge.

“I’m Kelsey,” I tell her. “What do I need to know?”

“Do you wish to understand your past or reveal your future?” Her hands press into both sides of the glass ball at the center of the table, and it starts to glow.

Nice parlor trick.

“Future, please,” I say. “My past is pretty simple.” And something I don’t talk about at Hollywood parties.

The ball swirls with a concoction of light and fog. This is a nice prop.

She runs her hands over the surface. “Southern girl. Came to California, drawn by the industry.”

That’s an easy hit. “I never lost the accent.”

She nods. “Skilled. Smart. Knows how to play the part but longs for something more meaningful. Something to call her own.”

My stomach clenches, but I force a smile. “Isn’t that all of us?”

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