I turn around at the use of her full name, and my eyes widen slightly becauseno onecalls Stel by her full name.
Everyone else in the room must pick up on it because we all share a look, but no one says–
“Are you two fucking?”
My jaw drops at Coral’s bluntness, but she sits there unapologetically. Stel and Mace look at each other for something, but no one says anything.
“Is that a no? Because the interviewer asked me for Stel’s number.”
“Don’tgive it to her.” Mace bites out with her heated gaze on Stel.
A smile grows on Coral’s face. “So you two are fucking like rabbits, got it.” She gets up from her seat, and I bite back a laugh at her tactic and the other girls go on and on about how they knew it. Stel and Macey don’t seem to care that we know as they bicker about the interviewer quietly a few feet behind us while we walk to the parking lot.
Royal helps me with my basket of flowers, and they barely fit in my backseat, but I’m definitely not complaining. He’s making an effort, and definitely not the bare minimum.
I hug the girls and tell them I’ll see them later before heading for a show I have with Elaine Wilson. I had a casting for her months ago and got the part. When I walk into the studio, her daughter is once again the first person to greet me.
“Sage!” She runs up to me, and I pull her in for a tight hug.
“Hello, Ms. Ebony.”
She pulls away, and when she looks at me, her jaw is agape. “You remembered my name?”
I laugh at her before planting a soft kiss on the top of her head.
Her jaw drops before she looks up at me. “I'm never going to wash my hair.” She hugs me tighter, and I break into another laugh.
“Don’t say things like that, Ebony Mave.” Her mom's voice pulls us apart, and she turns to me.
“Sage, you’re early which means you're on perfect timing. Let me show you to your dressing room.” She gives me another run-through of the show, and it isn’t too long, which is why I was able to squeeze the interview before it and my other meeting right after.
When we reach my room, Elaine turns to her daughter. “Leave Sage to work.”
When Ebony's head drops, so does my heart.
“Oh, it’s okay. I’d love it if she’d stay with me.” I smile at Elaine before glancing down at her daughter. “I don’t like being alone during shows I don’t know anyone in.” My words are true, but I voice them for her sake.
Elaine keeps her gaze on her daughter. “Fine, but do not start trouble, Eb. I don't have time for your antics today.” She warns, and after Ebony says she'll behave, we head into my dressing room.
“Wow, my mom issucha kiss ass. These flowers are obnoxiously huge.”
I cannot believe this man. I walk over to the light blue hydrangeas and look for the note with a soft laugh.
I have a peanut allergy.
I despise honey.
Pineapples on pizza should be illegal; shoot me,
I don’t care.
Babies are weird to me. They should know how to walk at birth like every other mammal, grow up.
I have never been to Jamaica or Haiti, but we should go together.
I laugh at how random these facts about him are.
“My mom must really love you.”
