“I’ll rehearse with you,” I say. It comes out gruffer than I intended.Great, now I’m jealous of actors pretending to be in a relationship with her.I need to shake that off, and fast, because pretending is part of her career. She needs me to support her, not stifle her.
I clear my throat before trying again. “If you think it would help.”
Marissa’s face lights up. “I would love that, if it isn’t too much trouble. I don’t want to hijack your whole day.”
I almost laugh out loud. As if there is anything I’d rather be doing than spending time with her.
“Not a problem,” I tell her. “What do you say we head down to the water?”
Unlike Marissa’s, my house isn’t lakefront. But what I do have is membership to a private beach. At least, our town’s version of a private beach.
The small strip of sand is enclosed behind a picket fence that looks like it’s seen better days. Inside, a dozen chaise lounges line the shore. Their occupants, mostly middle-aged women, face the water,while a few kids balance on an oversized inflatable a few feet out into the lake.
“I’m assuming this isn’t your first time on exclusive sand,” I say as I lead her down the cobblestone path toward the entrance.
“Nope. Glad we can finally break away from the peasants.”
I snort out a laugh as I lead her through the gate. We grab a couple of unoccupied loungers and drag them into the shade. No one gives us a second glance, either because Marissa is well-disguised in the baseball cap she borrowed from me, or because this isn’t the Caribbean, and celebrities aren’t typically spotted around here.
Marissa pulls the script out of her purse and hands it to me.
“Okay,” she says. “I’m mostly off book for this scene so you can hold it. You’re reading as my husband, Alec. For context, when I was tucking our son into bed, he told me that he discovered a secret portal beneath the school gym today. I’m not sure that I believe him, but there’s something about his story that is nagging at me. Anyway, I’m telling you about it while we’re getting ready for bed and youdefinitelydon’t believe me.”
She sits up in her chair and mimes brushing her teeth. When I stifle a laugh, she smacks my knee.
“Don’t make fun of my process,” she protests. “I’m orienting myself to the scene.”
I cross an X over my heart. “I would never. Please, don’t let me interrupt.”
After she flosses, rinses, and spits, she shakes out her hands and cracks her neck.
“Okay,” she says. “I’m ready.”
She blinks her eyes a few times and when she looks at me again, she’s a totally different person. She hasn’t said a word yet and I’m already completely transfixed.
“Justin told me something interesting tonight,” she says.
She’s staring at me expectantly for a few seconds before I realize that’s my cue.
“Oh. Right.” I fumble with the script and manage to find my line.
“What do you mean?” I ask, dropping my voice an octave.
Marissa abandons her character and laughs. “What is happening with your voice?”
“Why should you be the only one who gets to play a role?”
She barks out a laugh. “Okay, DiCaprio.” Rolling her shoulders, she shifts back into character.
“Something about a portal or something?” She exhales a soft breath of laughter and shakes her head. “I know it sounds ridiculous. But the way he was talking about it. He was so insistent, and the details were so vivid. I don’t know. Maybe he really did see something.”
“You let that kid watch too much TV. He’s probably just repeating lines from a show. You know he does that sometimes.”
Marissa shakes her head. “Justin hasn’t really had issues with echolalia since preschool.”
The stage directions indicate that I should wrap my arms seductively around her waist. Finally, a move I can get behind. I can’t reach her waist from where I am sitting, so I settle for closing my hand around her ankle and giving it a squeeze.
“You were in his room for a long time,” I recite. “I was starting to get antsy. I’ve been waiting to have you all to myself.” I put the script down and give her an exasperated look, breaking character. “Tell me she isn’t going to sleep with the guy after he was so dismissive.”
