Page 44 of A Certain Step
“Okay, but only if we’re cast in it together,” Sam remarked.
Ethan winked. “There’s no other way we’re taking it on.”
He and Sam started singing part of the film’s main track. Willa giggled in the middle of them and leaned back against the couch to let them serenade each other, but Ethan turned to her, and Sam followed. It made her blush.Hard.
“See, people, sometimes theydoget along.”
Ethan and Sam both laughed. God,Ethan’s laugh.
Sam pointed to a question about who breaks character most. “You know what this reminded me of. I don’t think anyone knows this story?” Sam said.
Ethan gestured for him to go on.
“Remember the last dress rehearsal before opening day at Boston?”
Willa laughed at the memory. “You have to tell them now. They deserve to know.”
“Okay, okay, okay,” Sam tried to say while laughing. “You guys, Ethan doesn’t break character. Like, it’s annoying how good he is. And I’m horrible. If anyone’s breaking, it’s either me or Dec. So we’re in full-on dress rehearsals, running the show, everything’s going great…”
Ethan interrupted. “Wait, no, hold on. Give them the disclaimer. During the last half of ‘All For You,’ we don’t actually have a set choreography. So most of what you see we improv. Like sometimes, Elizabeth kisses Darcy. Other times, I’ll do it. It’s free rein. We just roll with it, so keep that in mind.”
Willa tried to suppress her laugh.
Sam kept going. “So, during this second half, Sahar and I come in, and we sort of have this cute little couple’s celebration. We’re doing our thing. They’re doing theirs. Sahar and Naomi sort of look at each other and hug, and it’s such a quick moment that Ethan and I are supposed to hug, too. I fucking trip and stop myself by accidentally grabbing his ass.” Sam breaks into a laugh. “Does he flinch? Not even for a second. And I’m trying so hard not to lose it because we were doingso well,so we keep going.”
Ethan had his hand over his mouth while he laughed silently.
Sam continued. “We get back with our wives and we’re carrying on the song, and Sahar loses it.”
Willa laughed hard. So did Ethan. They leaned into each other instinctually.
“I feel bad telling this without her. Where is she?” Sam asked.
“She’s in PT. Don’t worry. Go,” Willa answered.
Sam shook his head with another laugh. “So they’re singing, we’re dancing. And Sahar’s trying to question it, thinking it’s something we improvised, but I have no clue what she’s wordlessly saying to me, so all of a sudden, she grabs my ass, and I think I yelped or something. All I hear is Ethan’s laugh, and Naomi’s on the floor; Sahar goes down with her. Dina looks like she wants to fire all of us. For a good five minutes, I couldn’t explain that it was an accident,” he paused. “What was the point of this story?” he returned.
“You were trying to answer that you break character the most,” Willa said.
Sam concurred. “Basically, yes, and this guy makes us all look bad on stage because he’s too damn perfect.”
Willa turned and smiled at Ethan.
“You’re perfect, too, Sam,” Ethan commented.
Sam blew him a dramatic air kiss, then got up suddenly. “Okay everyone let’s go, it’s time to harass Declan in his man cave.”
Ethan rolled his eyes but rose to his feet, beckoning for Willa to step ahead of him. They walked into the next room, finding Naomi and Innila standing in front of Declan’s door.
“Oh, shit, it’s a party,” Sam declared. Naomi and Innila turned around.
“We’ve been expecting you,” Naomi said with a laugh.
Much to their unfortunate surprise, Declan put on a shirt solely to spite Sam.
“You bastard,” Sam started. “How dare you disappoint the fans like this?”
He looked straight into the camera. “If you’re at the show tonight, don’t talk to this asshole at stage door. He won’t give the people what they want.”
