AllFreeNovel
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“As do you.” I smile, hoisting myself up to sit on the edge, the spotlights off above our heads. “It feels damn good to be back in this world.”
“All the world is a stage for you, darling. Isn’t that true?”
“Eh, real life me is nothing like the characters I play. In fact, part of me loves acting because, in reality, I don’t love the noise and the people and the drama of movies.”
“That’s what makes you so good at it.” Wilson winks. “Because you’re not thirsty. Actors so desperate for roles aren’t the great ones. They are memorable, but only because they want fame, not to tell incredible stories. You don’t fall into that category, and that’s why you’re so damn talented. So talented, in fact, that I’m keeping you hostage in this random-ass Pennsylvania playhouse to coach my kids for the rest of time.”
“Doesn’t sound like a bad gig.” I’m only half-joking.
“Whenever you’re ready to make this permanent, say the word.” He smirks.
“You haven’t seen me teach, what if I’m shit? What are we workshopping, anyway?” I look over the papers, picking one up to study some dialogue.
“You won’t be shit. Anyways, we’re doing a Christmas show, it’s an original written by one of our senior cast members. It’s about a small-town family at Christmas adopting a child from the city. Will be heartwarming but also highly emotional, and lots of the cast will be kids because of the school scenes. So they need all the fake crying advice they can get.”
I chuckle, liking the sound of this already. “I can onion cry with the best of them. Can I read the script?”
“Oh my God, you’re here.” A teenage girl comes rushing down one of the aisles toward us. “Wilson, you told me workshop didn’t start until next week.”
“It doesn’t, what are you doing here?” Wilson rolls his eyes.
“Just wanted to do my homework in the audience seats, but holy crap, this is so much better!” The girl squees.
“Phoebe, language. Also, Ms. Mauer isn’t doing a workshop today, we’re just going over the script.”
“I’ll be quiet, I promise.” Phoebe presses her hands together like she’s begging to stay.
“Hi, nice to meet you. Phoebe, right?” I take over, sensing Wilson is about to crack anyway but that he’s annoyed at this whole thing.
“Yes! I’m just the biggest fan and when Wilson told us you’d be doing a workshop, I was the first to sign up. I played Belle in the school’s production ofBeauty and the Beastlast year and then Fanny Brice in theFunny Girlproduction they put on here in the spring. Oh, I’m rambling, jeez.”
Her excitement excites me, because I love actors who get into this profession at a young age. I’ve worked with such talented young actors, and they’re usually ten times more gracious than the adults I work with.
“Phoebe is exceptional, even if she doesn’t listen.” Wilson can’t help but smirk.
“Well, we’re going over the script for the Christmas play, maybe you can take one of the parts,” I suggest, knowing she’s champing at the bit.
“Oh my God, yes!”
“But this does not mean you already have whatever part we ask you to dialogue right now,” Wilson warns with one strict finger pointed at her.
“Got it.” She nods solemnly.
For the next hour, the three of us read through the play and tweak some scenes or lines. It’s a great story, will definitely draw an audience, and Phoebe really is as talented as Wilson let on. She’s a bit excitable, but she has the raw goods, and I can’t wait to see her on stage.
In the back of my mind, I know I’ll have to stay around for Christmas just to watch this production.
The sun is still shining as I walk out of the playhouse, checking my phone to see that I have a text from Patrick.
We’ve been exchanging messages and calls over the last couple days, and after we saw each other at the trout fest, he asked if I wanted to go somewhere with him later this afternoon.
To my delight, he asks me to meet him at a park on the edge of Hope Crest in half an hour, so I decide to head there after picking up a coffee.
I’m sitting on a bench, basking in the warmth of the sun, while pulling my jacket tighter around me as Patrick pulls up.
“Hi.” He ducks his head out of the car and waves me over.
Once I get in his car, he surprises me by leaning over, running a thumb along my cheek, and then kissing me. It’s slow and sweet, and it’s crazy to think it’s only been a few days since we last kissed. Because it feels like I could get used to this.
