“You know I’m in your corner. This is a studio movie based on a true story, though. They want what they want, and they want awards. Right now, they’re not convinced you can win them any, and the actress they have in the lead role might just. You know how this business is. It’s all politics, money, and bullshit, but we’re all here anyway, aren’t we?”
“I’d kill this role; you know that. I’d get a supporting nom for those awards they want.”
“Honey, this role isn’t as big as you think it is.”
“I’d make it big.”
“Maybe so, but you won’t get the chance. Iamsorry,” Francine told her and squeezed her forearm. “If you want to direct, let me know. I’ve got a friend with a new drama he’s been working on for Showtime this summer. I can get you a directing gig, probably. You did a few episodes of your own show back in the day, right?”
“Three, yes. Does your friend have anypartfor me?”
“Not that I know of. But I’ll ask, okay?”
“Yeah, okay. Thanks,” she replied, defeated.
She left Francine in the hallway and saw herself out and to her car, where her driver took them out of the lot. Kennedy couldn’t believe what had just happened.
“They think you were going to hit me?” Cameron asked when she arrived home.
“Apparently, that’s the new rumor. Or, maybe it’s been out, and Jessie and Zane missed it. I don’t know.” She kicked off her shoes and put them in their proper spot in her closet. “I just can’t believe it… God, Cam… I’d never.”
“Babe, I know,” Cameron said when Kennedy walked out.
She was sitting on the end of their bed, already dressed in her pajamas, which told Kennedy clearly that nothing was happening tonight because those were Cameron’s period pajamas. She always wore her soft, thick flannel pants on the first and second day of her period, and even though they used to not have a problem having period sex, now it seemed like they didn’t want to have any at all. Not that Kennedy was in the mood for anything right now anyway.
“Period start?” she asked.
“Yeah, this morning.”
Kennedy nodded and sat down next to her.
“Want some chocolate?”
“Yes, I do, but this is more important. She said people think you were about to hit me?”
“She said that she heard that I had my hand raised as if Imighthit you. I remember pointing at you andher.”
“That’sallyou did. Ken, I have never, ever thought for even a moment that you would do anything like that.”
“You really mean that? I need to hear it right now.” She sighed. “I can’t believe that someone would think I’d do that to you, but it would kill me ifyouthought it.”
“No. I thought you might yell some more, but that’s it. I’ve never worried about that.”
Kennedy nodded and said, “She told me that’s why the studio doesn’t want me. The real reason, anyway. There’s the age thing, too, but it’s more about this stupid fight that I can’t believe I started. She suggested we go to the Bahamas and get away for a while.”
“We’ve already been.”
“Yeah, I told her as much. I think she meant getting out of here, taking our faces off of billboards, social media, and everywhere else, and just disappearing for a while.”
“Kind of hard to do that when we just launched a campaign for charity.”
“Maybe after?” Kennedy asked softly.
“You want to go?”
“I don’t know, Cam. Maybe we should. I’m not getting parts anytime soon. I doubt you will, either. Maybe we do this charity double date thing, make it look really good, and leave town on a high note. We can take a few months off and just go somewhere.”
“Where?”
