Page 67 of Absolute Certainty
“Oh, not to be weird, but I know who you are. I’m a huge fan ofMidnights at Pemberley.I was rooting for you all during the Tony Awards.”
Sahar’s eyes gleamed then veered back to Jay, who’d just finished adding Willa’s drink to the carrier, with the wordsHappy Birthdaywritten on the plastic cup in lieu of her name. “I like her,” she said aloud.
Alex smiled. So did Jay.
Sahar took the tray in her hand. “Thank you for everything, Jay.”
“Anytime,” he said while simultaneously taking his mom’s phone from his sister and setting it in his pocket.
“Mind if I walk out with you?” Alex asked Sahar.
“Sure, I can wait with you while you get whatever.”
Alex shrugged. “Oh, I’m good. Nothing is more tragic than the fact that my brother works at a coffee shop, but I have way too much anxiety and acid reflux to take advantage of it.”
Oof.That was tragic indeed. Sahar was so glad she didn’t have to live without coffee. Caffeine aside, she loved the taste too much.
“See you, I don’t know when,” Alex commented.
Jay bobbed his head at them both.
Hatchard’s Academyplayed two streets away fromMidnights at Pemberley.When they were out of the coffee shop, Sahar turned to Alex. “I hope my asshole of an ex is nice to you.”
Alex guffawed. “The only person he’s nice to is our equally shitty stage manager and the director when he sometimes comes in.”
Sahar was sure disgust oozed out of her face. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. You know, he tells people he dumped you, but everyone knows it’s probably the other way around. No one believes him.”
It was Sahar’s turn to guffaw. “Yeah, I’m the one who finally saw the light. But it doesn’t shock me one bit that he's doing that. I expected as much from him.”
“You dodged a major bullet there.”
Sahar agreed. “Oh, I know.”
Alex looked like she wanted to say something, but stopped herself.
They’d been drawing close to the Hyacinth Theatre already.
Sahar wanted to ask what it was, but figured it was best not to.
Instead, she said, “Hey, Aisha Sharma is inHatchard’stoo, right? I know she was recently inHere on Earth,but her run ended?”
Alex bounced her head with a smile. “She is! I’ve known her for over a decade now, so having her come ontoHatchardsis exactly what I needed. She started two days ago, and we literally swapped dressing rooms just to be in the same one.”
Small freaking world.Or industry, rather. Aisha was Priya’s cousin, and they’d met at Sam’s birthday last year. She remembered Jay saying his sister didn’t have many friends atHatchards,so it was lovely that Aisha had gotten the gig.Sahar had read something about one of their stars stepping down, which must’ve been the role Aisha had booked.
“She’s such a sweetheart,” Sahar said. “Plus, few things are more comforting than having a trustworthy person in our line of work.”
“She really is,” Alex affirmed. “And I agree. I was miserable without her. So, I’m personally glad Lydia Nolan got pregnant and had to leave. To be honest, everyone’s happier away fromHatchards.But you know how it is, necessary experience and all.”
Sahar gave her an understanding smile. The unsettling thought of her contract atMidnightsending rushed back to the forefront of her mind again. She’d been doing so well without that particular fear.
“Tell her I say ‘hi!’” she chose to say next.
“Absolutely.”
Once they were at the Hyacinth’s stage door, Sahar faced her fully. “It was so great to meet you, Alex.”
