Page 61 of To the Moon and Back

“You’re on.” Carly grinned.

“I could go for some fries.”

Carly wanted to give Lauren the moon and stars. Fries shouldn’t beso hard.

* * *

No, no, no. Lauren was late for the matinee and she hated it withevery fiber of her being. Traffic had clearly been out to get her, and she’djust barely make her call time, which was unheard of. She preferred to be extraearly, and when she wasn’t, she was automatically late, even though she was ontime. It was a whole thing that made sense in her head, at least.

“Wilks, hi,” Lauren said as she signed in. It wasn’t unusual torun into Wilks backstage, as he liked to make himself visible, but it was rareon Saturday.

“There you are. Just the woman I was looking for,” he said andkissed her cheek. He’d been her biggest cheerleader since she’d changed hatsand stepped onto the stage instead of into the booth, attending threeperformances ofStarryNightsthat she knew about. “Just wanted to let you know that JanWendel attended last night’s performance and loved what she saw.”

Lauren squinted. “Wendel?” The Wendel family were well knownBroadway producers. She didn’t know any of their first names, but could one ofthem be Jan?

“Yes, that Wendel. She’s a good friend of Ethan’s. Told me that ifyou ever make the move to New York to let her know.”

“Wow. As an actress?”

“As an actress. I thought about not telling you because you’re thebest stage manager I’ve ever worked with, but you should know how well yourperformance is being received.” She understood that Wilks was also checking inwith her, trying to assess if he was about to lose his favorite stage manager.The idea stressed her out, and she wasn’t sure what to say. She hadn’t made anyplans…yet. She glanced down the hall that led to her dressing room. “Thanks fortelling me, Wilks.” She pulled him in for a quick squeeze. “I’m a little behindschedule.” Which seemed like the lamest excuse when she heard it out loud.“Better get going.”

“Just keep me updated,” he said, and she headed down the hall. Herstomach turned a little at the idea of leaving her job, but it turned back atthe thought of not exploring every opportunity. She ordered herself to take adeep breath and knew full well she might fall flat on her face as an actressonce she stepped outside of this role. If so? She’d be no worse off. Thathelped a little.

“Hey, you,” Carly said. She smiled warmly, leaning against thewall in the hallway. She’d done her makeup but had yet to get into costume.“What’s going on? You signed in but weren’t in your dressing room.”

“Just a quick check-in with Wilks for a moment. No big deal.Logistical stuff.”

“Oh,” Carly said knowingly. “Is he trying to convince you tostay?”

“I get the impression he’s worried.”

“Good. Because if he’s going to try and persuade you, I cancertainly redouble my efforts.” She tossed her hair playfully, but even Carly’ssilly side translated to alluring. If only she knew how little she had to workto be persuasive.

Lauren ran her hand down the back of Carly’s hair affectionately.“Trust me. You’re way ahead.” She gestured down the hall toward her owndressing room, her stomach flip-flopping with uncertainty all over again. “Ibetter kick it into gear. I’ve never been this late, and it’s stressing meout.”

Carly glanced behind her at the clock. “Yet you’re not close tolate at all. You still have time. What’s it like to be you?”

“You don’t want to know.” She placed a quick kiss on Carly’s lipsand headed down the hall, never feeling more unsure of her future, andterrified of what that all meant.

Chapter Fourteen

“Los Angeles has terrible traffic. You need to be prepared forthat. Always allow extra time no matter where you’re going.” Lauren’s motherlooked at her quite seriously the way she always did when she was nervous. “Oh,and wear a seat belt, which I know you know, but I have to say it. I’m a mom.”

Lauren returned to her bedroom from the bathroom, carrying hertoiletries bag. “I will. As for traffic, I’m not taking my car, so Uber will bemy friend. Plus, Carly apparently has a second one she doesn’t drive too oftenthat she says I can use.” She tossed another shirt into her suitcase.

“Well, that’s helpful of her.” Her mother paused. “I like her,Lauren. She’s…kind. Warm.”

“I feel the same way.”

Her mother sat on the edge of her bed and continued to help herpack. Lauren had a flight out West the next morning, and her mom had insistedon driving in to see her off and help get everything in order. No, she wasn’tgoing forever. At least, not yet. But a few weeks away was a pretty big deal.Carly had already flown home, and though they’d only been apart a day and ahalf, Lauren already missed her like crazy. The distance made all the difference.

“The photos from curtain call looked so emotional,” her mothersaid. “Was it as memorable as it looked? I just wish we could have been therefor the last one. We almost bought tickets from a scalper.”

Lauren laughed. “You were there for opening. That was enough. Asfor your question, the closing show was like saying good-bye to the mostunexpected best friend.” She met her mother’s eyes. “You know, I still can’tbelieve the whole thing was real. That any of this is.”

She thought back on just a few nights prior, standing downstage,her hand firmly in Carly’s as they took their final bows and said farewell tocharacters who they not only loved, but who had been instrumental in their ownrelationship.StarryNightswas what brought Carly to her and made Lauren step out of hercomfort zone in a million different other capacities as well. The wholeexperience had been a dream come true, and Lauren was a different human for it.

“We’ll see you back in a few weeks?” Wilks asked, as she performedthe bittersweet task of cleaning out her dressing room the next day. Luckily,the stage management office was just down the hall, and she wouldn’t have totravel far.

---