She blinks at him. “I don’t.”
I hand him his script and don’t broadcast that I know he’s lying through his teeth to protect his wounded ego, finding out that she might be more advanced in how things are really done than he is. That wouldn’t be kind and I want his confidence high.
Hitting record, he takes it from me without looking, and I realize he hasn’t looked at me once since she arrived. With every other girl he’s sought my opinion, reading my eyes with a curious glance to see if I thought she was a true potential. But not with this actress. She has his full attention as she turns away, locking her eyes on the ground to prepare.
Max has been reading the other character’s lines during all of the auditions. I told him there was no way I’d do it, and he laughed at me. But now as Colleen turns around with tears already in her eyes, I purse my lips and wish it wasn’t him that beautiful vulnerability was directed at.
“Jaden, no! Don’t leave me!” Her body bends slightly like she might fall, arms reaching for him. “I’m sorry. I messed up again, I know, but I’m trying. Don’t you see I’m trying? I need a fix. I don’t want it, Jaden, I need it! I need it. Please you have to help me!”
Max acts the part well, his eyes stricken but firm, “I’ve got no money left to give you.”
‘Marnie’ buckles at the knees. Reacting quickly, excitement in his eyes, Max lowers the camera angle to capture her as she sobs. Truly cries with all of her heart like he just killed her chance at happiness. I sit forward in my seat, stunned as she weeps and reaches for him, looking like a bird with broken wings. “Don’t say that! You have to give me more. Just a few dollars! I can make it last. I’ll stretch it! I promise! Just this one time!”
“You said that last time.”
She wilts, voice weakening. “Okay,” she whispers.
“Okay? What does that mean?”
“Nothing,” she whispers again, eyes down, tears silently streaming.
“Marnie, what are you gonna do? I don’t like this.”
“I need a fix, Jaden. I need one.” Her eyelashes rise. “You didn’t mean it when you said it was over between us, did you?”
“Yes,” he rasps, wincing. He hates hurting her and I don’t think he’s acting.
I stare at him a second, then look back to watch ‘Marnie’s’ eyes harden a little. Just a hint, but it’s deep and powerful.
“You need to go, Jaden. I want to be alone.”
He demands, “What are you going to do?”
“You said it’s over,” she sneers then shouts, “So go! Leave! Get out of here!” Breaking down she hugs her knees, rocking. “You don’t love me anymore. You don’t love me.”
“Marnie, my brothers, they’re making me stop seeing you…I can’t throw my life away just because I love you.”
“Go!” she screams, red faced.
I’m speechless as she wilts and stays quiet, sniffling. Glancing from me to Max, Colleen wipes her cheek and gives him the sweetest smile. “Was that okay?”
“Wow,” he whispers, lowering his script, paper brushing his grey jeans. “Wow.”
My heart is slamming in my chest as I stand up. “That was very good, Colleen. I hope you make your other audition in time.”
She smiles at me, rising up. “Thank you. It’s for another film, so I don’t want to miss it.”
Max comes to life like somebody kicked him from behind, rushing to her and saying, “It doesn’t conflict with my film, does it?”
She tucks flaxen hair behind her ear and nods, “Yes, but—”
“—But nothing! Tell your agent you can’t make it. You’re Marnie! You’re exactly who I envisioned for this role.”
“Really?” Amazed, she glances from him to me. “I’ve got the part?”
My lips are thin as I smile, “Mmhmm.”
“Yay, because they loved your script and sent it right over the second they read it. I devoured the thing immediately. You’re such a great writer, Max, really! It was so moving and heartfelt and I hoped I would get a chance, you know? This is so exciting! Thank you!” She touches his arm, gazing up at him with such beauty that I have to look at the floor.
It’s Max who’s in that sunbeam. And he’s basking in it.
Faking an incoming call I dig my phone out and head for the door. “Excuse me, I have to take this.”
CHAPTER 21
M AX
A holiday and days of casting for my male-hero later, Caden strolls into the loft, amused eyes flicking between me and Natalie as I stand up to greet him. “What the hell are you doing here?”
He claps my back on his way to her. “Good to see you too, jerk. Hi, I’m Caden. His brother. You must be the woman our parents warned him about.”
In a stylish dress that falls just above her knees, and lavender boots that climb just shy of them, she cocks an eyebrow. “So you’re blunt and cute, two winning qualities in my world. Nice to meet you Caden, I’m Natalie.”
A lopsided grin flashes and he shoots me a look. “Watch out, Max, she likes me.”
I grumble, “Why are you here?” shoving my hands in my pockets, a trademark Cocker move when the men in our family aren’t happy.
“Wanted to see who you’re casting as Dad. Can you blame me for being curious after our phone call last night?”
“Don’t you have some disease to misdiagnose?”
“I’ll do that later, don’t you worry,” he smirks, smacking my shoulder and sliding a slow gaze up Natalie’s body. “But I can see why you want me to leave.”
“Don’t be sleazy.”
Caden laughs. “Too much? Alright, I’ll stop fucking with you, bro. I’m on the graveyard shift, working sixteen hours straight and then eight off, then again. What they don’t know is I plan on staying longer than sixteen
