Page 23 of If the Stars Align
“Hey, come here,” Dex says as he takes me in his arms. I inhale his soapy scent, and the heaviness in my heart lifts a bit. “I know it’s hard being apart. But this isn’t the end for us, Sunny. I promise. It’s only the beginning.”
It’s approaching ten o’clock and I’m still sitting onstage listening to the director give incredibly detailed notes to every cast member. He’s only about halfway done. I’m desperate to get back to my dorm and call Sunny, but we’re an “ecosystem” now, as our director likes to say, so his feedback applies to everyone. I agree it’ll probably make me a better actor in the long run. Plus I don’t want to piss him off. He cast me in the starring role on the spot, without bothering to see the roomful of actors who showed up after me. Since we started rehearsing, he’s taken me on as his protégé, sharing everything he’s learned from his twenty years in the industry.
I still can’t believe I got the lead inA Streetcar Named Desire.And as a sophomore no less. The seniors I went up against were really fucking pissed.
I glance at my watch again. It’s a quarter past ten, which means past midnight in Evanston. I realize my leg is shaking and hope no one notices how anxious I’m getting. Rehearsalshave been running ridiculously late this week. Last night, Sunny stayed up until one in the morning, her time, just so she could say goodnight. It’s lucky that her roommate’s always at her boyfriend’s, so at least we don’t have to worry about waking her. I feel awful that Sunny waits up for me, but at the same time, I’m grateful. If I don’t catch her before bed, I won’t get a good night’s sleep.
Finally, the director wraps up. I grab my backpack and am heading for the exit when the actress playing Stella runs up to me.
“Dex, wait up!” Her face is flushed when she reaches me. She smiles at a few castmates on their way out the door and waits until they’ve left before she continues.
“So, I’ve been thinking, since we play a married couple in the show, we should get to know each other better. Like…moreintimately?” She bats her eyelashes and bites her lip.
If Sunny knew how often things like this happen to me…
My first instinct is to turn around and run.But I’ll be working with this actress for weeks, so I can’t make things awkward between us.
Instead, I half-smile and look down before my eyes meet hers again. I tilt my head. “I have a girlfriend,” I say, holding her gaze.
My performance was subtle, but I can tell it came across exactly like I intended. I’d paused just long enough before I answered to make herthinkI was tempted.
“Lucky girl,” she replies with a flirtatious smile. “Well, if you change your mind…”
She walks past me, making sure her chest grazes my arm on her way out.
Now the actor playing Mitch is walking up. “Dude, please tell me you’re hitting that. She’s so fucking sexy.”
I shake my head. “I amnot.”
“But she wants to, right? Jesus, what I wouldn’t give to look like you.” He sighs as he walks past me.
It’s almost ten-thirty now. Fuck.
I run back to my dorm room and dial Sunny’s number. “I’m so sorry,” I say as soon as she answers.
“It’s okay,” she replies sweetly, stifling a yawn.
All at once, the stress of being Dex leaves my body. Just hearing her voice does that to me.
“How was your day?” I ask, settling onto my bed. My roommate’s with his girlfriend too, so it’s just me and Sunny. It’s the first time all day I’ve felt genuinely happy.
She heaves a deep sigh. “Well…I slept through my alarm and missed my poli sci exam this morning. But it’s not a big deal! My professor’s letting me take a make-up test.”
My muscles tense again. “The make-up tests are always harder, Sunny. Is he docking points from you too?”
“Maybe…” she replies, her voice rising like it’s a question. “Just a few.”
My heart sinks. “Jesus,” I say after an exasperated exhale. “I’m so sorry, Sunny. This is my fault. If it weren’t for my rehearsals running late, you wouldn’t be waiting up for me to call?—”
“Dex,I’mthe one who decided to stay up the night before an exam, andI’mthe one who slept through my alarm. You can’t blame yourself.”
I suck in a breath. “I don’t know, Sunny. I think maybe weshould scale back on the phone calls.” The thought of talking to her less is terrifying. These phone calls are my lifeline. “Just until my play is done,” I add quickly.
“So, I make one stupid mistake and now we can’t talk anymore? That hardly seems fair,” she says.
She’s trying her best not to cry. I don’t have to see her to know there are tears in her eyes. It kills me. But there’s no way I’ll let myself be a burden on her.
“Look, I know how serious you are about getting into Northwestern Law. You’ve gotten an A in every poli sci class you’ve taken so far. I can’t be the reason your grades start slipping.”
