Page 23 of Curtain Call
He also remembers all the love in the theater, and not just in the back row. The love his grandparents had for each other and then his parents. His father would hold the door for his mom, ask her to spontaneously dance with him when a particular song came on the radio, or buy her little trinkets when he saw something that reminded him of her. Colin wishes for that kind of love story one day. Maybe Riley ishislove story.
The doors clicking shut in the back of the theater causes Colin’s fingers to stop.
“Glad to see you’re still playing,” Riley comments as he walks toward the stage stopping midway down the center aisle.
“Good morning, handsome man of mine,” Colin beams with bright eyes and smiles at the thought of the two of them together.
Everything feels right at this moment. The two of them together, here in this space. Picking up like the years apart wasn’t rough for either of them.
“You are mine, right?” Colin continues.
“Well, I did bring you coffee,” Riley replies holding up the tray with three cups.
“You know me so well. IV drip,” Colin taps his forearm with an open palm.
“I brought one for Mac too,” looking around the room, “but I didn’t see her truck out front.”
“She left to run an errand and stop over at another job site to check on some flooring she is having installed. She should be back within the hour.”
Colin notices Riley’s shoulders are slumped a little and he isn’t making direct eye contact. Something is off and it makes Colin a bit uneasy.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing, why?” Riley assured him before sipping his tea with lemon. “Can’t I just stop in to visit?”
“Yes, but you don’t,” Colin gives a grin and a wink. “Besides, I know you, and I can tell something’s on your mind.”
Colin hops off the stage, folds down a chair to sit, and pats the one next to him for Riley to join him. Riley takes the seat after setting the tray on the stage. Colin reaches over and takes Riley’s hand into his. The moment they touch, Colin’s skin soothes Riley enough to tell Colin about the text exchange. Colin takes note of the cold temperature of Riley’s hand and rubs it a bit to warm him up.
“I got a call this morning,” Riley starts and then pauses. “Well, actually a text at first and then a video call, from my agent.”
“Moving along,” Colin was starting to fidget.
“They have short-listed a group of actors for a reboot musical and I made the top four for the lead. I need to let them know by Friday if I accept the audition or it will go to the next person on the list.”
“Con-grats,” Colin says hesitantly because Riley’s facial expression looks like he’s constipated and doesn’t know if this is good news or not.
“No, it’s good news that I’ve made a name for myself to get a call like this.”
“But?” Colin demanded.
“It’s not a role I envisioned for myself.”
Riley tells Colin about the musical and its relocation of it to a smaller theater. He talks about all the pros and a few cons. He likes that there would be a set schedule. He likes that he will be in one place for at least a year on contract with an option to renew if the show does well. Ifhedoes well.
He likes that he will be a train ride away from Colin. Could they make a long-distance relationship work? Could Colin hire someone to help run the theater so he could spend more time in New York? Riley’s head is spinning but there is something else. Something he hasn’t shared with anyone.
“So why are you scared of this audition?”
“I’m not scared, wrong adjective,” Riley squeezes Colin’s hand, “nervous maybe.”
“You perform on stage all the time. Would this be any different?”
“A huge difference. I mean, I have only been someone swaying in the background and, sure I am the understudy, but I am not lead for 7 shows a week. My name isn’t on the front page of the program or on the marquee. I am not responsible for carrying the show night after night.”
Riley drops Colin’s hand and stands up. Colin grins because Riley is always the performer and he knows Riley did this move for dramatic effect and to get his point across. But he also knows that Riley is genuinely concerned about this audition.
Riley continues.
