Page 57 of Every Star that Shines

“Yeah, but the replacement wasn’t working out. They’re willing to reshoot her scenes with you if you could start on Monday.”

“I see.” Josh had probably dumped Kaitlyn as casually as he’d started dating her. What had Delanie ever seen in that human toadstool?

But she didn’t have to date him, or even like him, to work with him. A role on Trueheart would still be a fabulous career boost—but it was shooting on location near Kamloops, a good eleven-hour drive from Peace Crossing. It wasn’t like she could just commute until she was done with the play. “I have commitments here for two more weeks. Are they flexible at all?”

“I don’t know, hun. They’re already sliding you in late. But I’ll ask ’em, if that’s what you want me to do.”

“Yes, please.”

“And what about the thing with Montague?” Crinkling plastic came through the line, and Delanie imagined Sandra unwrapping a candy and popping it in her mouth. Her agent was addicted to caramels.

“Please set up a video chat meeting for anytime during the day this week. I’ll think about the Trueheart thing, but I’m not sure I’m ready to run back the instant Josh snaps his fingers.”

“Good for you, hun.” Sandra’s words were slightly garbled by the candy. “But also, you know what an opportunity this is. I wouldn’t waste it, if I were you.”

“I’m aware,” Delanie said dryly.

“Okay. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“Thanks.”

“And Delanie?”

“Yes?”

“Way to beat the mob, hun.”

The line went silent, and Delanie pulled the phone away from her ear, watching the screen as her agent’s photo faded to black.

“Huh.”

Sandra was right. It had been an interesting day. She had spent most of it texting back and forth with Amber and Caleb and reviewing last-minute things for the play. With the performance dates coming up fast—opening night was only ten days away—it seemed like there was way too much left to do. Maybe when Marie came next Wednesday, she could help with the last-minute prep work.

Delanie swallowed. The impending performance meant her return to Vancouver—or Kamloops—would be here before she knew it. Which meant she and Caleb should talk about what they would do after she left. She wondered if he might come out just for the gala, even if he couldn’t stay in the city long. It would be fantastic to see Josh’s face when she walked in with her new man on her arm.

She shook her head. Josh was in the past. And if she worked with him again, it would be because it was a good decision for her career and nothing else. But she wasn’t sure she wanted to. After the email from Tessa and the talk with Sandra, she wondered if her name might have less of a black mark in industry circles than he had led her to believe. And what kind of project did Tessa have in mind?

“Caleb’s here,” called her dad from the living room.

“Thanks, Dad,” Delanie called back.

She closed her laptop and moved it to a side counter, then hurried to put on her coat and boots at the front door. By the time Caleb stood knocking on the stoop, she was ready to go. She let him in with a smile and a quick kiss, then popped her head into the living room.

“I’ll be back late. Please don’t wait up.”

Cheryl, who had barely said two sentences to Delanie since Thanksgiving dinner a week ago, glanced sideways at her and nodded before turning back to the show, her arms wrapped around a pillow in front of her chest.

Bill glanced at his wife with a sigh, then gave his daughter a warm smile. “Have a good time, you two.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Delanie looked at her mother, her chest tight. “Bye.”

“See you, Mr. and Mrs. . . . Bill and Cheryl,” Caleb finished, then opened the door for Delanie while rolling his eyes at himself, which made her giggle.

Despite the tension that seeped out of the house behind her, she couldn’t help but bounce a little as she took Caleb’s hand and followed him out to the truck.

“That’s a big smile,” he said as he helped her into the cab. “What’s up?”

“I’ve got some big news,” she said.

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