Page 68 of Take 2
“I’m going to need to live in the same building as you forever if you’re ever going to get anywhere you need to be.”
“Mira! We both have our blacklist topics. This is mine.”
“First of all, you totally bring up my blacklist topic. Secondly, you’re still stuck with me. Maybe I’ll even leave the dick mug at your place for when I visit.”
“If you leave that, I will mail it to your parents.”
“I’m so glad we’re friends because we would be vicious enemies.”
“I’d make you cry,” he says.
“But that would make you want to cuddle me, so I guess our friendship is just inevitable.”
Lisa’s Oscars party is everything I ever wanted mine to be. More so, even. Because I’d never have thought to have caterers. We’ve got flutes in our hands before we’re five steps in, but there’s also a staffed bar. Stations of appetizers are scattered throughout the open space.
“I should have worn a floor-length gown.”
James taps his glass to mine. “No, you look amazing.”
Lisa’s red tulle midi gown makes me feel a little better, but it’s still much more formal than my mid-thigh hemline. “Only five minutes early? Well, you look stunning, so the time was worth it.”
“Thank you. It was mostly because it took him so long to get pretty, though.” I gesture to James. “Lisa, this is James.”
“I’ve heard so much about you.” Her smile is dazzling as she shakes his hand.
“And I you. But as excited as I am to see Mira’s movie, I might have to be angry at you for putting her in a position to get her own apartment.”
“Our girl is going to be famous. I couldn’t stop that if I tried.” She loops her arm through mine. “How are things going? Were you happy with the result of your last meeting with Emily?”
“Yes, we figured everything out.” Emily is a fantastic director, and I could not be more grateful that she comes to me with questions, ideas, and tweaks. “She says we’ll be scheduling a test screening soon.”
“That’s wonderful! I can’t wait.”
“I’m so lucky to have you.” Landing an agent was harder than writing the movie. And I had to do it twice.
“No luck involved. You’re brilliant. Your lit background set you up to write so beautifully.”
“James, are we grossing you out yet with our lovefest?”
“Not at all. I’m thrilled to see smiles and champagne today.” He winks at me.
“Well, we should have plenty of that,” Lisa says. “Enjoy. I’ll catch back up with you in a bit.” She floats off to greet new arrivals.
“I would have actually killed you if you brought Nick to this.” James pinches a canapé between his thumb and pointer finger and sighs when he puts it in his mouth.
“There is no way in hell I’d have brought him. Before we forget”—I take my phone out of the gold clutch that matches my heels—“pictures.”
James takes some of me, a server takes some of the two of us, and I snap a picture of him thathasto be his new profile picture on everything. We mingle with Lisa’s other clients, and shortly before the official red carpet coverage starts, Lisa steps up onto the raised hearth of her huge fireplace, and a hush falls over the room.
“Thank you all for coming tonight. It’s an incredible honor to work with so many talented people, and I know you won’t all always be available to hang out with me during the Academy Awards, so I am grateful to have you here today. It’s also a pleasure to tell you all that I’ve accepted an offer from a bigger agency!”
I suck in a breath.Not again.What does that mean for me? Do I still have an agent?
“And I am taking you all with me!”
For a few seconds, I thought my whole career was crumbling. Okay, that’s a little dramatic, but shit, I would cry if I lost Lisa. Because of her, notjustbecause trying to get an agent again would be hell.
“You’re all still stuck with me,” she says and gets some chuckles. “This can only open more doors for us, and I’m over the moon to share this with you today.”
