“That and I got you a cup from downstairs and watched until he left.” She brushes past me and examines the room.
“Yeah. Sorry about that. You know… with guys like that…” I feel like an ass for treating her the way I did. Why can’t I finish the sentence? Luckily I don’t have to.
“Trust me, I get it. Gotta play the tough guy. But if you snap at me again, I may kick your ass.”
“And that’s why I keep you around.”
Zebulund's reputation for big parties and extravagant gifts is matched only by the rumors of his immorality. I've never met the guy before today and wasn't impressed. He carries himself like being allowed to breathe the same air as him is a gift.
“So?” she asks with eyes wide in excitement. “How’d it go? What’d he say?”
We move to the living room where I spent most of the day being interviewed. I’m too restless to sit down but she does.
“You were right. He wants me to do the Space Wars movies.”
“Yay!” She claps rapidly.
I scratch at my chin, rough with a five o’clock shadow.
“Why the face? This is huge.”
“I don’t know.” I shake my head. “It feels off. A big decision.”
“Good news, you don’t have to marry him. You don’t even have to decide right now.”
I nod and pick up a stress ball from the free swag table. I lob it into the air and catch it a few times. In my peripheral vision Rachel is dying to say something.
I wave her on. “Out with it.”
“This could be the thing that makes you a household name.”
Why me? Almost slips out of my mouth but it seems a little self-indulgent so I toss the ball a few more times.
“I guess.”
“You’ve told me countless times you hate being called the ‘it guy’ because it implies you aren’t going to be ‘it’ forever. Well, this is how you makeitlast.”
My stomach rumbles loudly, and it’s the reminder I need. Once you’ve come close to starving, you’ll do anything not to go back to that place. I’ll do what it takes to stay in this game. Feed myself and my family. Even if it starves my soul.
“You’ve heard the rumors about him, his reputation. I don’t know if I want to be associated with that.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard.” She chews her lips as she mulls.
“You didn’t get a vibe?”
“I do from a lot of men in this town.”
It shouldn’t be that way. I regret not calling Zebulund out on the spot.
“He invited me to a party this weekend.” I casually change the subject.
“Oh?”
“On his yacht,” I say with affected arrogance.
“Roe!” she yells with indignation.
“Rachel!” I mimic her tone.
