“Oh, I’ve definitely noticed. He’s always the first to let me know when I fuck something up.”
“That’s better than the alternative. At least he knows you exist.” I pat him on the back as he opens the door for us both. “I bet you’ll be a starter in no time.”
I walk in ahead of him and he jogs to catch up with me. “I know what you’re doing, Reed. And I appreciate it.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I lie, biting back my smile. “I’m just being honest.”
“Well, thanks anyway. Fornotmentoring me or whatever. I’ll take all the help I can get.”
“Anytime, man. I’m happy to help. You just have to ask.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Hayley
Aringing wakes me the next morning and I groan as I reach out to stop it. “It’s too early. Go away.” Waving my hand where my bedside table should be, I come up empty, opening my eyes to find I’m not in my room.
My heart seizes until a foggy memory works its way into my mind, instantly relaxing me.
I’m still at Reed’s.
After we decided not to fake date, we watched the rest of the movie while drinking ourselves stupid. Actually no, I drank myself stupid—since I no longer had something to distract me from my nightmare audition—while Reed supplied the goods, complaining that his head still hurt from his drinking session with Luke. Three days earlier.
My phone rings again and I find it on the floor beside the bed—where a side tableshouldbe.Who doesn’t have side tables?Where does he put his water? Or lamp.
Dangling over the edge of the mattress, I stretch out to grab my phone, securing it seconds before it stops ringing.
“Hello. Sorry.”
“Thank God. Hayley, it’s Mel.”My agent.“I’ve called twice already.”
What? “Sorry. I was asleep. What time is it?” I must have slept in. God, Reed’s probably on his way back from practice already, and—
“It’s seven.”
“Seven?” I sit up quickly. “In the morning?”Did they ring her about the audition?
“Yes, Hayley.” She laughs but it holds an edge to it that’s not usually there. “I know it’s early. But I had to call you right away.”
“Oh God. They called you. What did they say?” I fall back onto the bed and grab the pillow, ready to cover my eyes. I was vague on the phone to her on my way to Reed’s yesterday. I should have been honest.
“No, I haven’t heard anything and I want to… Actually, let’s talk about that later. I called for a different reason.”
“Okay.” The urgency in her tone has me sitting up again and running a hand through my hair.
“I had a late dinner with the head of Whitaker Productions last night, and they want you for the part of Cynthia Rose inReckless Desire.”
“Bullshit.” I sit up straighter, biting back a squeal.Reckless Desire. Holy shit. Maybe it’s good I didn’t get the other role. I would die for the part of Cynthia. Sure, it’s more pressure because it’s another movie based on a book. But this one’s a romance, not a fantasy, so I’d be hitting a whole new audience. “Please tell me you’re not joking.”
“Do you think I’d be calling this early if I was?”
“That would be harsh.”
“It would be, and that's not me. Theywantyou.”
“Oh my God.” I allow myself to squeal this time but move the phone away from my mouth until Mel’s muffled voice permeates the air.
“Sorry, I missed that.”
