Page 1 of Slay Ride

Chapter One

Cat

Snow rushes past the living room window that overlooks the backyard. I don’t want to see snow right now, though. It’s a reminder that I’ll probably miss the winter retreat next week, which means I’ll also miss another chance to get my first kill.

I rip the curtains closed, and the silver hooks squeal across the black metal rod. Kindra looks at me with dark, narrowed eyes that relax when she sees the cup of coffee in my hand. I hand it to her, and she drags her judgmental gaze back to her laptop screen.

“You aren’t on the clock, Cat. You can chill for once,” she says.

“I can’tchill. I’m waiting for an important email.”

Kindra turns to look at me, her black waves bouncing around her face. “The audition?”

“Not just any audition. It’s for a supporting role in a local production ofCats. This could be my big chance, Kindra. I might finally break out.”

Kindra licks her lips and closes the laptop. “Isn’t that a musical? I didn’t know you could sing.”

“We’ll find out if I can as soon as I get that email.”

Kindra looks at me with a stony gaze that I’ve grown to love. “You don’t know if you’re good at singing? That’s like jumping into the ocean when you aren’t sure you know how to swim.”

She has a point, but I’m not exactly tone deaf. I also have a dance background, so that should win some brownie points...as long as they don’t fact-check and realize I took a class once when I was five, then never returned.

I begin to pace the living room. Nervous energy pulses through my body, and I need some way to relieve it. My heels tap on the worn hardwood floor with each step. Kindra hates incessant noise, so it’s not a surprise when she spins around and bites my head off.

“Can you stop making that sound?”

“Walking?”

“Yes, walking. Go take off your shoes if you’re going to tap dance all over your fucking house.”

Her abrasive tone should damage my fragile feelings, and a few months ago, it might have. Now I know her, though. Her fuse is short, and she’s a bit grumpy a lot of the time, but she’s my best friend and I love her, regardless of her poor attitude.

Not everyone can pretend to be happy all the time.

Kindra takes a deep breath and sheds the coil of metal surrounding her persona. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’m struggling with an impossible story for work, plus the prep for the winter retreat, and I’m over it. Listen, it will all work out how it’s supposed to.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“We deal with it, Cat. Just like we deal with everything else.”

I hate that she’s right, but she is. The part is either mine or it’s not, and pacing incessantly won’t change the casting director’s decision.

Maybe it’s best if I’m not on that list. Rehearsal schedules might interfere with work, and I have bills to pay. Or maybe I’m just not cut out for acting. Like everything else in life, maybe this is just another thing Cat Novak can’t do.

As I sit on the sagging couch, my phone buzzes. I nearly drop it as I maneuver it out of my pocket. An alert stares up at me. One new email.

And it’s from the production team.

My thumb drops on the banner, and I’m taken to a lengthy email that details the practice schedule and call times for each cast member. I skim through the list, but I can’t find my name. I wasn’t even considered for the ensemble cast. Not even as an alternate.

“I didn’t get it,” I say, my voice unusually meek. I fight back burning tears. Kindra may be my best friend, but she’s also my longtime idol, the Heartbreak Killer, and I hate crying in front of her.

“Oh, fuck. I’m so sorry.” Kindra comes and sits beside me. She isn’t the touchy-feely type, but she knows I am, so she wraps an awkward arm around my shoulder. “They don’t know what they’re missing out on. But hey, look on the bright side. Now you can come to the winter retreat!”

I appreciate Kindra trying to make me feel better, even though comforting others isn’t her strong suit. Missing the retreat was the one downside to potentially being cast in the play, so at least I still have something to look forward to.

“Bennett for sure isn’t coming, right?” I ask. If he changed plans and wants to attend, I’ll just stay home with my cat.

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