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I swallow back my fear. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not the kind of agent who wants to bother you while you’re on a much-needed break, but the team at Curated Living has been asking a bunch of questions about the plans for next fall’s collection, and I can only deflect so many times.”
My breathing quickens. “Right.”
“They reported record-breaking numbers for your last launch, so they’re excited to start planning your next one.”
“Of course.” I clench my hands to stop them from shaking.
“The team wants to know when you will be sending the preliminary sketches for it. If you want to launch by September and capitalize on your momentum, they’ll need to start production before the end of February.”
I haven’t made it through this fall, let alone started thinking about the next, but no big deal.
Liar.
Panic swells in my chest. Every time I open my tablet to begin sketching, my energy levels tank, making me feel defeated before I have a chance to start.
“If you need to pull back for a season—”
“No,” I blurt out. I’ve been working with Curated Living for the last few years, and I refuse to lose the last partnership I have left. “I’ll get them the initial sketches before the end of the year, so you can go ahead and schedule our meetings for January.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yup.” I rub my pulsing temple.
“Great! I’ll let them know.”
“Awesome.” My heart pounds against my rib cage as I ask, “By the way, do you have any pitch updates for the new show?”
While I was originally optioned to film another season ofBay Area Flipwith Oliver, our broken engagement ruined any chance of that happening, so I’m hoping Jamie can secure me a new network contract. I love my job, and not a day goes by when I don’t miss it and the people I helped.
“No, I haven’t heard back yet, but it’s only a matter of time before I call you with a new TV deal.” Her voice seems uncharacteristically chipper.
“Oh.” I fall back onto my bed. “Do you think no one is interested because the pitch is different from my last show?”
I appreciated the Creswells and their connections, which helped me land a show to begin with, but their tight grip on the production process left me wanting for more.
More control over the show’s narrative. More clients fromallsocioeconomic backgrounds. And more freedom to discuss topics like grief, loss, and big life changes such as divorce.
While I didn’t expect production companies to drop everything to sign with me, it’s been a few weeks already without any follow-up meetings.
What do you expect when your personal life has become an internet meme?
My eyes sting, but I blink away the tears.
After Jamie hangs up, I’m tempted to crawl back under my covers and fall asleep, but instead, I make a conscious choice to get up, unzip my luggage, and search for my makeup bag.
Un Muñoz nunca se rinde, my dad always said.
And it’s time I remember how to live like that.
I don’twantto leave the house, but I choose to do it anyway because my mom and sister need my help with a large order of wedding centerpieces.
My mom’s shop, Rose & Thorn, is located in the famous Historic District on the north side of town. The area was adequately named after the brick-and-mortar buildings and surrounding cottage-style neighborhood dating back to when the town was first founded in the late 1800s.
The Historic District makes up the heart of Lake Wisteria. A majority of the original buildings are located within the five blocks, including the library, bank, town hall, post office that once used carrier pigeons, and a tiny schoolhouse the size of a shoebox. We weren’t wealthy enough to grow up there, but my mom was able to open up a tiny flower shop thirty-five years ago when my grandparents moved here because of a job.
It would be hard to miss Rose & Thorn with the pink paint covering the exterior brick walls and the fall window display full of red, orange, and yellow flowers of all shapes and sizes.
