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But the truth is, I can hardly be bothered with him today either. Tomorrow is our first table read. The entire cast will be together for the first time.
Sophie will be there.
I haven’t spoken to her since the day at the coffee shop. Finally having her number doesn’t seem to mean much now. She hasn’t texted me, and I haven’t tried to contact her either. I hardly think she’d want to hear from me anyway. She’ll see enough of me over the next few months.
Nick walks back into the room and points at the script in front of me. “Say that last line again, but this time remember what I told you about your “or” sound. You’re saying ‘forty’ wrong.”
I grit my teeth and take a deep breath, looking back at the paper and thinking less about whether I can pronounce my words correctly, and more about which words I’ll use tomorrow when I see Sophie.
***
“You must be Kai? I’m Brent. I’m playing Josiah. Glad to finally meet you.”
“Ah, great. Looking forward to working with you.” I smile, shaking his hand.
Josiah is William’s best friend. They return home from the war together. Brent is shorter than me and built much thicker. He has straight, dark hair, and a large nose that doesn’t quite fit on his face. But his smile is genuine, and I have a feeling I’m going to like him.
As he takes his seat, I lay my winter coat across my chair at the long table. A place card reads “Kai Lamont ‘William’” in front of my spot, and next to it sits one that reads “Sophie Bellwood ‘Elaine.’” I smile as I reach out and touch hers gently, straightening it out so that it’s in line with mine.
“Well, that looks much better. Thanks, Kai.” It isn’t Brent’s voice. It’s much sweeter and much more familiar.
I spin around to see Sophie grinning up at me. Something flutters in my chest because she looks so much different than she did the last time I saw her.
“Oh, yeah, it’s shorter now.” She blushes and touches her hair. “That’s how George wants it for the show, so I figured I’d get it done now.”
I gulp silently. Her long hair suited her so well, but this new look does something different to me. Her auburn locks fall in gentle spirals onto her shoulders, looking softer than ever.
“It, um, it looks really great.” I’m trying hard not to reach out and touch it.
“Thanks.” She blushes again as she sets her bag down. “It’s going to take some getting used to.”
I can’t stop staring at her. So, I just nod, because she is so very right. I’m eager to get used to it, to twist my fingers around it, to bury my nose in it, however long it takes.
But I step back, remembering my promise. I’m grateful I’ll get to play the William to her Elaine, or else I’d never get to do those things.
She pulls off her thick winter coat and hangs it over her chair, revealing her tiny, delicate frame. She seems even smaller now. It’s clear she’s successfully lost the extra weight for the role.
“How’ve you been?” I ask.
“Cold.” She sighs and stares out the window. “Looks like snow.”
“Not a fan?” I smirk.
She doesn’t respond at first. She’s distracted by something across the room. I follow her gaze as she waves to Nick at the other end of the table. He smiles brightly at her. It’s the most animated I’ve seen him yet.
“Yeah, I mean, the snow’s pretty. But that’s where it ends for me.” She laughs lightly, sitting down and beginning to flip through her script.
I start to open my mouth, but she speaks up first, looking past me and beaming. “Maureen! Hi!”
I turn to see another young woman dropping her bags in the seat on the other side of mine. My eyes trail up a set of long legs, past a set of curvy hips, to a head of deep brown wavy hair, and a set of full, red lips.
Maureen sighs deeply. “Oh my God, Sophie, it took forever for me to get here from the west side. I can’t believe you beat me.” Then her eyes turn to me.
Sophie speaks up. “Kai, this is Maureen. She’s playing Daria. We met last week.”
“Ah, finally my William.” Maureen winks at me. “It’s nice to meet you, Kai.”
I shake her hand and grin. “Maureen, it’s a pleasure.”
