Page 73 of Lucky 22

I’m not excited anymore.

“Tracy…”

“You have to trust me on this. Come to LA, and we’ll talk.I’ve also got a few other auditions lined up, so even if the voice-over thingdoesn’t work out, it won’t be a wasted trip, okay?”

My curiosity is wildly piqued, so I reluctantly agree.

“I’ll see you Friday,” I tell her. As soon as I hang up, Irealize the timing couldn’t be better.

It’s not that I’m happy to leave St. Louis—andChristian—especially after crying about how much we needed more time together,but I’m looking forward to having part of my life back.

One that comes with a regular schedule and only one dinnerper day.

“I hate that you’re leaving already,” he says a few dayslater as we’re getting ready for bed. He had a game today, so we ate a latedinner, and now, it’s time to relax with a little TV. “I feel like we haven’thad much time together.”

You’re not wrong…

Obviously, I don’t say that, but I do think it.

“I know, but my agent got me this audition for somevoice-over work. She’s being super secretive about it, but no matter how much Iask, she won’t tell me what it’s for.”

“That’s strange, isn’t it? I mean, how can you prepare ifyou don’t know what the part is?”

“It’s one of the reasons I’m heading back early. Theaudition isn’t until next week. It’s super top secret, and she can only sharethe details and the script with me in person.”

He frowns. “I don’t like the sound of this. What if you flyall the way back there and it’s something weird or crude that you don’t want todo?”

I laugh softly. “I think we both know I wouldn’t take a rolelike that. Not after the way things went down with my last stint.”

He pulls me into his embrace. “It wasn’t all bad.”

Hugging him back, I agree. “It wasn’t. But it definitelywasn’t what I thought it would be.” When I pull back, I smile. “Now I know thequestions to ask so that it never happens again. Besides, I feel like I’m duefor something good—a good role. And if it’s not the voice-over one, maybe it’llbe on one of the other auditions.”

“It’s gonna happen, Ella Rose. Iknow it. You’re far too talented.”

“Thank you. I need to record you saying that and play it onrepeat before my auditions. You are my ultimate hype friend.”

We crawl into bed and get comfortable. His arm slips aroundme, and my head fits against his shoulder like it was always meant to be there.I love moments like this—the simple ones, where nothing is required of usbeyond being close. His warmth seeps into me, our legs tangled beneath thecovers, familiar and reassuring. I trace idle patterns on his chest, memorizingthe feel of him, the steady rise and fall of his breathing.

I wish these precious moments were all my heart needed. Iwish I didn’t yearn for anything else. At this point in my life, I’m veryhappy, but sadly, the truth is that I know I’ll be happier if I can get mycareer back on track.

And it really hasn’t gone off the rails, I know that. I knowI’m being hard on myself. But that’s why I need to go and see Tracy and havethe auditions. I know I’ll feel better about myself, and I’ll be able to handlethings better when I feel like things in my universe are a little more undercontrol.

He kisses the top of my head, and I hum softly.

This is good.

Things are going to turn around for me, and then I can be abetter wife and a happier woman.

I’m claiming it.

I just hope this voice-over thing isn’t something strange.

I get back to LA, and Tracy tells me that theaudition is for a new Galactic Wars animated TV show.

Um…WHAT?

Galactic Wars is one of the biggest moviefranchises in history, but I thought they had wrapped up the whole saga. Sixmovies, that was it. Now, they are making an animated show? This is going to behuge! I want this so badly, but everything is so top secret, and none of thelines even make sense. It’s all very generic, and there is only a briefdescription of the character. It’s really hard to prepare.