Page 70 of To the Moon and Back

“You first. Tell me all about the audition,” Lauren said, restingher chin in her hand.

Carly lit up. “It went as well as I had hoped. We ran the scene acouple of different ways. They put me on video, which is customary, and by theend, I think the director was really happy.” She leaned in. “Hennessy is astraightforward guy, and I don’t think he would have gushed as much as he hadif the offer wasn’t coming, you know?”

“Of course.” Lauren sent a silent thank-you to the stars, which,on their way in, had glistened extra bright. Carly needed this pick-me-up in abig way. “I knew you’d nail it. Have you worked with this director before?”

“Never, but we run in a lot of the same circles. I like his style.”

“I liked the director from my audition today, too. I wound up withan extra one, which is why I was late. A casting director thought I might be afit for another film her office was handling. So I ran over with it being soclose and got to read for the part. Let me tell you, it felt like a much biggerdeal than the low budget indie I read for first.” She hugged her shoulderstogether. “I felt Hollywood fancy. It was fun.”

Carly laughed and sipped the wine. “Sometimes you find the verybest possible projects that way. What’s the film about?”

“I’m not sure. I didn’t even get the title of the film because itwas such a whirlwind getting there, but the sides were from a scene in acourtroom and I read for a witness. We did some workshopping, and then they hadme read with another actor who’s already been cast.”

“Oh.” Carly inclined her head to the side. “That sounds like theyreally liked you.” She paused and set down her wine, as if mulling somethingover. “You said it was a court scene you read today. That sounds like myaudition for the Hennessy film, strangely.”

Lauren froze. “I don’t think so. The director’s name was Rick.”

Carly nodded, her smile now tight. “Rick Hennessy.”

“Oh, wow.” Lauren didn’t know where to go. Had she known this wasCarly’s audition, the one she’d been so excited about, she never in a millionyears would have gone in for it.

Carly shook her head ruefully. “We read for the same directortoday. Can you believe that? Crazy.”

Lauren blinked. “I honestly didn’t realize. I’m so sorry.”

Carly appeared unfazed, but almost as if she was trying for that.“You have nothing to apologize for. This town is pretty small at the end of theday.”

Lauren sat back in her chair just as two amazing plates of foodwere set in front of them. She laughed. “I don’t even know what to say now.”

This was certainly awkward.

Carly took a deep breath. She stared at her plate as if she’d losther appetite. Lauren hated that. This was their celebratory dinner. “I don’tthink we have to say anything. It is what it is.”

“Listen, I’m nobody and you’re Carly Daniel. There’s nocompetition here. Trust me.”

Carly shook her head. “Don’t say that.” She seemed genuinelybothered by that sentence. “You’re Lauren Prescott, and you’re definitelysomebody important, and the only person to call me on my own bullshit in a verylong time.”

Lauren smiled. “I think I was the only person crazy enough to.”

“So true. How is this so amazing? We need to invite the chef overand keep him.”

Lauren laughed. “See? That would never occur to me, a commoner.”

They ate in silence, but a weight had settled over the evening.They made small talk, smiled at each other, and marveled again and again overthe amazing food. There was too much marveling, in fact.

“Are things weird now?” Lauren asked, finally, over dessert.

Carly shook her head. “No. Not at all.” A pause. She softened.“Maybe a little.” She offered a genuine smile. “I don’t want them to be.”

“Me neither.”

“Okay.” Carly reached for Lauren’s hand and kissed it. “Then let’snot allow it.”

“Deal.”

But when they went to bed that night, Lauren felt the distancemanifest into the physical. Carly wasn’t herself. She kissed Lauren good nightbut remained on her side of the bed.

“You okay over there?” Lauren asked into the dark.

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