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Mom sighed. “Is it going to be hard to say goodbye to your friends at the show?”
“You’re talking about it like it’s a sure thing.”
“He said the meeting was about going over an offer, didn’t he?”
I stood and took my dishes to the sink. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to accept the offer. I have a lot of questions.” And I don’t want to leave Jem.
It wasn’t just Jem who’d be hard to leave. I loved the entire cast and crew of Not My Alfred. Every day was different and exciting. The show was fast-paced and engaging. The buzz growing around it in the media was causing our already sold-out tickets to be even more in demand.
“Dawson,” Mom began in her mom-tone. “You know what’s most important when considering these big decisions in life?”
“Fame and stacks of cash?” I teased.
“Your happiness. Don’t ever forget that.”
I grabbed my water bottle off the table and slid it into the side pocket of my backpack before grabbing my keys. “I think I’d be plenty happy with a lead role on Broadway, Mom.”
She laughed softly. “Agreed. But make sure you’re taking it for the right reasons.”
I thought of how the new role could shape my future in theater and the opportunities I would encounter simply by working with Daniel Diggs. Career growth, learning opportunity, networking. All of those were great reasons to take the role on Pillow Talk. And maybe I could come home every night to a Jem in my bed. The best of both worlds. “I will. I promise.”
I strode out of the apartment building and into the sun. Whatever the day ahead of me held, it would end in the very best way.
With Jem Sinclair in my arms.
9
JEM
The day flew by. When I arrived at the hospital to visit my sister, she was already dressed and preparing to leave. “What’s going on?” I asked.
Garret was beaming. “They gave her the all clear to go home. The tests are all good, and the IV fluids helped her dehydration. They’re sending us home with some anti-nausea medicine.”
“And we called Garret’s parents to tell them the news. They’re giving us his great-aunt’s house in Edison.” Lina beamed. “It’s only three miles from work and five from his parents’ house. Things between us are perfect again.”
I couldn’t fathom the pressure that the two of them were under, especially with Lina feeling so weak and terrible, and I wanted to be sympathetic. But I also knew that once the baby arrived, the pressure on them was only going to increase, and they needed to learn better communication strategies than their current break-up-then-make-up routine.
“You two need some counseling,” I said. “Or you’re never going to survive having a kid together.”
Garett met my eyes. “I said the same thing. She agreed to go with me. We’re going to make it work, Jem. I’m not leaving.”
I knew he meant it. He was a good guy. I stepped forward and hugged the shit out of him. “I know you’re not. Thanks for taking care of her.”
He squeezed me back and cleared his throat. “There’s a room for you in the house too, you know. If you change your mind about living in the city. It’s a three-bedroom. One for us, one for the baby, and one for Uncle Jem.”
I pulled back and grinned at him. “Not only no, but hell no. I’ll be happy to come visit, but I’m happy here.” I looked at my sister. “You going to survive the white picket fence? That’s awfully domestic for the likes of you,” I teased.
She smiled and shrugged. “True, but Garett said I could turn the third bedroom into a design studio and work from home when the baby comes.”
I shot Garett a look of mocking accusation. “Dude, that’s my room you’re giving away. What the fuck?”
He held up his hands and tried to keep from laughing. “We both know you weren’t going to move back in with us with a baby on the way.”
He was right. We joked around until making our way out of the hospital and meeting Garett’s dad out front. He’d driven into the city so Lina and Garett wouldn’t have to take the train back to New Jersey.
Once they were gone, I walked through the city thinking about the future. Lina and Garett would be okay. They’d be close enough to his parents to have plenty of help when the baby came. His parents adored Lina, and they even treated me like family too. Maybe I could stop worrying so much about Lina and trust she was in good hands.
I blew out a breath as I waited in line for a bagel and coffee. When my phone buzzed, my heart leapt in hopes it was Dawson.
It wasn’t.
Chris: Rumor has it a big name actor is coming to show 2nite.
