Page 19 of Absolute Certainty
Her lips quirked upward. “You’ve made me a monster. I can’t wait to read the rest tonight if I’m not too tired after work. Speaking of. I should get going.”
“I’ll walk you back,” he added, rising from his seat.
Standing up, Sahar adjusted the strap sitting across her body. “Do you live in the city?”
“No, I’m on the Island. You?”
“Willa and I are in Queens.”
“Nice. Did you two meet on the show?”
Sahar shook her head, dodging two pigeons in her path by veering closer to him. “We were in a production ofMacbethtogether back in London. Clicked instantly and moved here together six years ago. ButMidnightsis our first show together since then.”
“Is this your first principal role on Broadway?”
She confirmed with a nod.
“I’ve been meaning to see it. Time keeps getting away from me.”
Sahar let out a sardonic gasp. “How dare you take so long?”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’ll be there one of these days. I promise.”
She turned to him, another bright, slow smile rising on her lips. His breath hitched.
“You don’t have to. I’m teasing.”
“Iwantto,” he underscored.
Jay knew very little with utmost certainty, but he knew that Sahar Peck was someone he wanted to keep close in his life. How, he wasn’t sure of that part, but there were layers to her that he prayed to unfurl, secrets he hoped to excavate, and smiles he wanted—no,needed—to keep.
5
SAHAR
“Sahar? You’re quiet today. Is everything okay?” Willa asked, glancing at her from the mirror in their shared dressing room. Sahar hadn’t told her she had met with Jay to talk about the screenplay. She hadn’t told anyone, including her sister, who was set to visit soon for the Tony Awards.
Sahar faced Willa through their reflections. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just can’t stop thinking about how…never mind.” She had no business thinking about Jay’s circumstances. None whatsoever.
Willa turned in her seat. “Hey, it’s me, babe. You can talk to me about whatever’s on your mind. Is it the prick? Has he done something again?”
Sahar shut her eyes briefly. “No, no. It’s Jay, and some things he told me today. I got the sense that…I don’t know; I could be making assumptions here, but something about the look in his eyes made me feel like he’s a bit broken. He told me some stuff, and with the way he talks about people, it’s clear that he’s constantly taking care of others, but who’s looking out for him? Or at least, I don’t know. Maybe someone is. I just can’t shake it.”
Willa looked confused for a beat.Yeah, hi, Sahar; it would have helped if you’d started from the beginning.
“Wait, he told you all that at Amanda’s?”
Shaking her head, Sahar added, “No, I met up with him for a bit at Bryant Park after PT to talk about his screenplay.”
“Ah, well, that makes more sense. Do you reckon he…?” Willa’s words remained suspended in the air as a rap on the door demanded their attention.
“Come in,” Willa called out.
Sam barged in, phone in hand. “Ladies,” he greeted, then turned to Sahar. “Work wife, want to get on Instagram live with me? People have been asking about you.”
Sahar chortled. “I’ll be there as soon as I’m ready.”
Willa spoke again after Sam left. “I forgot what I was going to ask, but did you find out anything about his daughter’s mum?”
