Page 5 of To the Moon and Back

Her favorite snuffling pug, Rocky, did his famous front paw danceas she opened the door to her home, at long last. She dropped to the ground andmimicked his prancing back and forth. “Rocky, Rocky, Rocky,” she said to eachlanding of his front paws, exciting him all the more. The more he snuffled, themore thrilled he was. Finally, she toppled him onto his back and rubbed hisbelly and his sides vigorously, his favorite. “Do you know how much I missedyou? There was this cow wandering around onstage, and it reminds me of youevery time, you wiggle worm of love. I will kiss your face eight times tocelebrate our reunion.” More snuffling as he was kissed. He loved kisses.

Lauren scooped up her best friend and carried him into her livingroom where they collapsed together on the couch and channel surfed until heradrenaline from the day receded. She did go ahead and pull that cup of Baileys,which tasted like a lovely chocolate shake in liqueur form. Before consumingit, she took a moment to straighten the blanket on her couch and make sure itwas folded neatly. Everything in Lauren’s life came with order, her lifeline.

Once she’d accomplished her goal, she was able to breathe a littleeasier in her well-structured home. Magazines on the coffee table, but books onthe shelves. Mug handles faced to the right, and dish towels were folded intosquares. Everything had its place, and that made her happy.

The more Lauren relaxed, the more her mind began to turn over theevents of the day. More specifically, one important event. She thought on theoffer before her. The question was, did she have another three months left inher? Could she push pause on a vacation that she’d already booked and pinedaway for in order to go back into the rehearsal room all over again?

As she drifted off to sleep with Rocky snoring at her side, theanswer was clear.

Hell no.

Chapter Two

“What do you think of me in plaid?” Carly asked and held a shirt upto her chest. “I feel like in Minneapolis maybe I should embrace my plaid side.Are there lumberjack types there? I feel like I remember that from school.”

Her best friend, Fallon, sat cross-legged on the floor of Carly’senormous walk-in closet, one of her favorite rooms in all the world. “I thinkyou look great in plaid, and isn’t Minnesota whereLittle House on the Prairietook place?Plaid worked for Walnut Grove, though I think they’ve industrialized quite abit since then.” She said it with a semisarcastic grin and turned another pageof theCosmoshe’d found on Carly’s bedside table. “Did you know that blueberries are asuperfood? I feel like my day just made progress.”

“I did know. I have some in my fridge if you’re hungry.” She wasstruggling with what to pack for this unplanned jaunt across the country. “Whatabout sweaters? I feel like sweaters are making a strong comeback.”

“I didn’t know they’d been banished.”

“The heavier ones certainly were. Chunky heels were alsotemporarily on the no-fly list. I never know who decides such things, but Iwish they’d slow down a little bit with all the shifts.”

“I kinda feel like you and your fellow starlets do.” Fallon shookher head. “Leave it to me to be on the wrong side of fashion for thetwenty-ninth year in a row. I’m five years behind at all times. It’s almost abadge now.”

“You always look great, Fal. I’m serious. I love your sense ofstyle.”

Her friend looked up with a soft, genuine smile. “Thanks, Car. Iappreciate that.”

Carly and her best friend Fallon Mendez met once upon a time onthe set of an early indie film that had helped put Carly on the map. Fallon hadbeen a production assistant and Carly had a small but memorable role in thefilm, that had come with a dramatic death scene, blood packets and all. They’dbonded at the craft services table over their mutual nervousness about possiblylosing their jobs. A friendship blossomed, and they’d never looked back. Otherthan her mother, who was less than reliable, Carly didn’t have too many peopleshe would consider close to her. A million acquaintances? Sure. But she tendedto keep people in that category on purpose. Fallon was different, and shetreasured their friendship.

Fallon set the magazine aside and blinked at Carly. She had herjet black hair pulled back in a ponytail which accentuated the earnestness inher eyes.

“It looks like you have something on your mind,” Carly said. “Imay be crazy, but I’ve known you a while.”

“I’m worried about you,” Fallon said simply.

Carly tossed the plaid shirt into her open suitcase, deciding ifnothing else, she could always tie it around her waist. “That I’ll be inMinnesota when autumn hits? Oh, me, too. I’m not built for extreme cold. I’m acabana in the summer kind of girl. Maybe you can send me igloo buildinginstructions.”

Fallon inclined her head to the side as if waiting for a loudnoise to cease. “I know that it’s your instinct to joke your way through mostanything serious, but that’s part of the problem. I love you, so let me saythis.”

Carly paused midfold, with an ache in the pit of her stomach. Ifanyone could make her shut up for a moment and listen, it was her best friend.Fallon was grounded, kind, and intelligent. Because her thoughts wereimportant, Carly took a seat on the plush beige bench in her closet. “Okay.Sure, Fal. I’m listening.”

“Don’t screw this up. I know you think that Hollywood sideliningyou is temporary, and it’s only a matter of time before you’re onThe Tonight Showagain,but it’s not.” Fallon now read scripts for a major studio and was in a good spotto have her ear to the ground. She would know, which Carly found sobering. “Youneed to get your act together and show the world that you are a wise investmentagain.”

Carly smiled. “I get that. But, Fallon, this is some little stageproduction that no one is going to see or talk about. How hard could it be?”

Fallon pointed at her. “I love you, and you have a kinder heartthan most people realize, but it’s that kind of thinking that’s going to biteyou in the ass and have you doing informercials to pay the mortgage on a housethat could fit in a tiny corner of this one.” Fallon pushed herself up andplaced her hands on Carly’s knees. “Take this very seriously, and do the bestwork of your life.”

Carly offered a mock salute and a smile. Her goal was to reassureFallon, but honestly, she wasn’t concerned. This play should be a cakewalk, andthen she’d get back to the business of her real life. She gave Fallon’s hair anaffectionate ruffle. “You got it. My best behavior.”

Fallon sighed. “You’re doing very little to convince me.”

* * *

“Wow, so you’re doing the show,” Trip said, sliding in next toLauren on the first day of rehearsal. “I was shocked when I heard. Twizzler?”

“No, thanks.” She sighed, then reconsidered and snatched a rope.“I put my entire vacation on hold. Can you believe I did that? I still can’t.I’m in mourning and still tanless.” She made a circle in the air with herTwizzler. “It’s a whole thing.”

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