Page 26 of Joey

The casting call got us a lot of options in a short period of time.

“I care,” I say. Because everything she just said was a lie. And I know this like I know my own dark, lying soul.

And she knows I know. I can tell. And she didn’t even blink.

I need a good liar if I’m gonna pull this off. But… I do not like to be lied to. So I say, “And then what?”

“And then,” she continues without missing a beat, “I found a few young couples with small kids. Like between five and ten. And I offered them Frisbee lessons. I might become a Frisbee instructor,” she muses. “I miss it.”

“OK, enough about Frisbee,” Wald says. “You two. Go.”

Amanda rises from her seat and says, “When I’m not shooting, I enjoy the beach, and dinner with friends, and—”

“Next,” I say. “This isn’t Love Connection, Amanda. I’m not trying to date you.”

She glares at me. Then she points her finger at me. “You know what? Thank you for the opportunity, but I don’t think my acting skills mesh with your project. If you even have a project.”

And then she flips her too-blonde hair, whirls on her heel, and walks out.

Brooke looks at Linnea and whispers, “And then there were two.”

Which makes Huck laugh and me frown. She’s definitely the most aggressive one in the room. Pink skirt suit aside, Brooke Alder is not what she appears.

“Well,” Linnea says, standing up, “I too frequent the park.”

“Do you?” Brooke asks. “We should meet up some time. Do you play Frisbee?”

“No. And stop talking. Your turn is over.”

“Sorry,” Brooke whispers as she looks at me. Then she winks. “Go on, Linnea.”

“Never mind,” Huck says, putting up a hand. “We’re done here.”

“We’re not done here,” I object.

“Yeah.” Wald sighs. “It’s pretty obvious who our choice is.”

“I didn’t make a choice,” I say. Then I point to Brooke. “She’s—” And I’m just about to say ‘lying’ when the desk phone beeps and Elaina says, “I’m sorry to interrupt, Mr. Boston. But your brother just pulled up in the valet area.”

“Which one?” Huck, Wald, and I all say together.

“Johnny.”

“Shit,” Wald says. “OK, thank you for coming, Miss Billings. But you have to go now.” And before I know it, he’s across the room, has Linnea Billings by the arm, and is shoving her out the door.

Then he whirls around, points to Brooke Alder, and says, “You’re hired and you’re on. Here’s the gig. You’re Joey Boston’s long-time girlfriend.”

“Got it,” Brooke says, getting up and walking towards me. She pulls my chair away from the desk and plops into my lap just as we hear Johnny Boston—the insane recluse who never leaves that stupid Bossy Building—yelling at poor Elaina outside.

The door bursts open.

Brooke laughs and says, “Oh, my God. That was the best time ever, wasn’t it?” Then turns her head to the door and says, “Oh, hello.”

Johnny glares at her. Then he glares at me. “What the fuck is going on here?”

“What are you talking about?” I say.

“You’re interviewing people for some job?”