Page 22 of Risk It All

“How did your interview go?”she asks me and I latch on to the conversation, happy for the distraction.

I tell her all about it and the gallery.Turns out that she was just there a few weeks ago for an exhibit and I hang on her every word as she tells me all about it.

They have their own driver and Alexander, Eden, and I slide into the back of the town car while Anthony rides up front with the driver.They take us out to eat at some ritzy place and I’m nervous at first, wondering if I’ll mess up which fork to use and embarrass myself, but then Alexander orders Eden a bacon cheeseburger and I start to relax.

I ignore Anthony all throughout dinner.

It feels too raw, like I’m an exposed nerve and I don’t want to break down in front of Anthony’s brother and sister-in-law.That would be too humiliating.

The comedy club that Anthony is doing his open mic at is only a block and a half away, so we decide to walk.Eden is telling me all about New York and some of the sites that I just have to check out.We’ve already discussed the best places to live in case I do get the job at the gallery and end up moving here.

Anthony and Alexander are talking about something but as we get closer to the club, I can feel Anthony’s nerves.He’s tapping his fingers against his leg as we wait outside the club and I know that he’s nervous about bombing again.Especially with his brother and sister-in-law in the crowd.

Especially with his audition tomorrow.

We’re let in and I move closer to Anthony, reaching out and giving his hand a squeeze.He looks down at me and I try to give him a reassuring smile.

We find a table squeezed into the back of the room.It’s one of the only ones left and I look around, taking in the crowd, stage, and the bar on the opposite side of the room.I’m stuck sitting next to Anthony and I try to avoid his gaze.

Maybe him rejecting me is for the best.Neither one of us is sure of our futures and if I don’t get the job, then I’ll be heading back to Los Angeles and he could be moving here.

He did you a favor.This was just a road trip romance.A strange one night stand that just happened to stretch over a few days.It’s about to end.You need to start letting him go now.It will be easier that way.

I keep repeating that to myself as Anthony’s name is called and he stands from our table and heads up to the stage.The closer he gets, the more his stage persona starts to show and by the time he’s climbed the stairs, he’s in full-on cocky comedian mode.

As he starts his set, I can’t help but wonder if he was just putting on a show with me too.

CHAPTER10

Anthony

This is it.The day of my audition.My big chance.

I should have been thinking about my audition all day, practicing my routine, or recording myself to make sure that my timing and pacing is spot on.

Instead, I’ve been obsessing over Emerson all damn day.

I know that I messed up last night.I froze and didn’t respond to her but she had caught me off guard.

What did I want from her?

I’ve been thinking about that question all day.Emerson had stayed in a different guest room last night and it had felt so lonely to sleep alone after the last few nights of having Emerson pressed up against me or wrapped around me.

She was gone before I woke up the next day.I thought that she needed her space so I hadn’t texted her, but now I’m wondering if that was a mistake.I wish that she was here for my audition.

As if my thoughts have conjured her, the door opens and Emerson walks in hesitantly.She looks around the room, her eyes meeting mine and holding.She gives me a smile and a quick thumbs-up as the announcer takes the stage.

I keep my eyes on her as she finds a spot at the bar, next to Eden and Alexander, and takes a seat to watch the show.There are three other comedians auditioning tonight with me and I’ve heard of all three before.They’re good and my palms start to sweat as the first comedian’s name is called.I nod at him as he passes and climbs up the stairs to the stage.

His set goes well but the crowd isn’t laughing too hard.Either they haven’t warmed up yet, or they’re going to be a tough one to get to react.

The second comedian is called and by the time he walks back offstage, he has the crowd in tears.My stomach tightens, sweat breaking out on my forehead as my name is finally called.

I force the nerves down as I climb up on stage, slipping into my Comedian Anthony persona as I grab the mic.

I launch into my set and when the first joke lands, I start to relax and have fun.I’ve always loved being on stage and as I set up the second punchline and spot Emerson laughing at the bar, I know that I’m going to nail this audition.

My fifteen-minute set flies by but I’m on fire.My pacing and timing are perfect.Each punchline lands and by the time I’m thanking them for watching, I see a few people wiping tears from their eyes.

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