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“Is everything alright, Spencer?” Stan asked, noticing my mood change.
“Yeah, just thinking,” I replied, forcing a smile. “Maybe going back to England for Christmas wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.”
“Well, if that’s what you need, then do it,” Stan encouraged, patting my back. “Just make sure you come back ready to give this show everything you’ve got.”
I nodded,knowing he was right. Some distance from London was exactly what I needed. But as I watched her walk away, my heart heavy with longing, I wondered if I would ever be able to truly let her go.
No matter what, I had to pull my shit together while I was in England and come back to New York with a clear head.
I could do that.
THIRTEEN
LONDON
The read-throughthe other day had gone really well, and today was our first real rehearsal on the stage. When I arrived at the theater with my friend Mercedes, it was with a mix of nerves and excitement. Mercedes had also landed a small part in the musical, but she was most excited about my lead role next to Timothy.
“Girl, you are in for a treat,” Mercedes gushed as we walked into the theater to see a shirtless Timothy rehearsing a dance move on the stage. “Timothy is like a dream come true. He’s got the looks, the talent, and the charm. I mean, have you seen those abs? And that voice, it’s like liquid gold. And the way he moves on stage, it’s like he’s dancing just for you. I’m so envious! You’re so lucky to be working with him,” she said as we made our way to the backstage area.
“You make it sound like I’ll be performing with Channing Tatum or Ryan Gosling,” I said with a laugh, trying to downplay the hype surrounding Timothy. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s talented, but let’s not put him on a pedestal just yet. I’m just grateful you’re here, too.”
“No way, even if I hadn’t gotten a part, I wouldn’t miss this for anything!” Mercedes said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Can you believe we’re both in a Broadway show together?”
I smiled, grateful for the support from my friends. They had always been there for me, even when I was just starting out in the industry.
“I’m just a little nervous,” I admitted, biting my lip.
“Oh, stop it,” Mercedes said, giving me a playful shove. “You’ve got this. Even if you mess up, who cares? It’s just the first rehearsal. You’ll be too busy stealing the show to worry about any mistakes.”
I chuckled, feeling my nerves ease a little. “You’re right. I’m just being paranoid.”
“It’s all part of the game,” Mercedes said with a shrug. “But I know you’ll do great.”
Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and said, “Okay, let’s do this.”
Mercedes grinned and gave me a quick hug. “Let’s do it!”
As I stepped onto the stage, I noticed Spencer wasn’t in his seat, and I felt a twinge of disappointment. However, I pushed it aside and focused on the task at hand, finding my spot next to Timothy.
“Places, everyone!” the director called out.
We ran through the scene, and once again Timothy impressed me. Despite the rumors I had heard about him being a prima donna, he was a dedicated performer and we worked well together to bring out the emotions of our characters in the singing. The choreography was challenging, but we moved in sync with the rhythm of the song, our bodies working together seamlessly.
When we reached the last notes of the duet and our characters shared a kiss, I definitely felt a spark between us, and I could tell Timothy did too. However, I knew I couldn’t act on it outside of the performance. The last thing I needed was more distractions that could affect my performance.
Darrel, our director, was ecstatic. “Wow, that was fantastic! The chemistry between you two is electric!” he exclaimed, before turning to Timothy to give him some direction.
With the final notes still ringing in my ears, I walked over to Stan, who was wearing a big smile on his face, and pulled him aside. “What happened to Spencer?” I asked. “Is everything okay?”
“Don’t worry about Spencer,” Stan reassured me. “He had to go back to England for Christmas to be with his family. But he’ll be back after New Year’s.”
“Family?” I asked, surprised.
Of course, he has a family. He’s probably married with kids.
“Yeah, his siblings, mother, and grandmother,” Stan explained. “Apparently, his grandmother is causing him some stress. She summoned him home for the holidays.” He gave me a knowing smile.
A sense of relief washed over me as I walked away from Stan. Spencer wasn’t married, and he would return to New York soon.
