“Totally. I’m all good for now.”
Colleen beams, “It’s so wonderful that we’re doing these rehearsals, Max! Usually we just show up on set, hoping it works out! But this is more like a play!”
Dan agrees, “That’s what I was telling my girlfriend, too. At the play I’m doing tonight we rehearsed for seven weeks and we’ve only performed for four. It’s the last night tonight and I feel like we only hit our stride Thanksgiving weekend. I really appreciate the chance to dig my teeth in here, too.”
“Thanks,” I smile, proud to be able to offer something good to them. They’re more experienced than I am. Didn’t want to come off as a hack. “Have a great show tonight.”
Dan gathers his things and Colleen takes the opportunity to step up to me and ask, “Do you think I can do some one-on-one rehearsals with you over my alone-scenes. The one where Marnie’s really losing it, all by herself, scared.”
“Of course! Are you talking about tonight?”
“No, I need to go over those parts of the scripts, do my prep work.” Smiling she waves by her face. “Not in the right headspace.”
“Sure, didn’t know if you were asking me about rehearsing now.” Glancing to Natalie I ask, “When are you free next?”
Clearing her throat, she pulls up her phone’s calendar. It occurs to me that she didn’t expect me to invite her to it, like I’m pissed at her tardiness. Swiping a few times, she raises those long eyelashes I fantasize about and says, “I can’t do this weekend, or Monday or Tuesday daytime. First week of December, and I’ve got to decorate when the clubs are slow.”
Frowning, I ask, “Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m sorry, I have to work, Max.”
Colleen touches my arm, a soft and gentle single caress that brings my focus back to her. “It’s okay, it can be just us. I trust you,” she smiles.
“See you later, Max,” Dan waves as he heads out my front door, wrapping the scarf around his neck.
“Yeah, see ya!” My gaze falls back to Colleen. “What days are good for you?”
“I can do this weekend.” Walking to lift her purse from my coffee table she heads for the coat rack, adding, “Whenever you need me, Max. I’m completely here for you.”
Relieved I exhale, “Great, thanks. I’ll text you.”
“Perfect.” Sliding her white coat on it looks like she just walked off the cover of Vogue. “Goodbye Natalie!” Glancing over she gives me a different smile. “Bye Max. This was so great, thank you for being such an open director. We really appreciate the respect.”
“Are you kidding? I’m barely able to pay you. It’s me who’s grateful. Drive safe. You going home tonight?”
“Yeah, it’s just me,” she shrugs with a sweet smile. “I’m going to take a hot bath and relax tonight. See you soon!”
“I’ll watch you get into your car,” I walk over and lean on the jamb of my front door as Dan’s taillights disappear into the night. The parking lot is well lit, but this is still an industrial area so you never know. Colleen’s not the type to kick someone’s ass. She’s the type who needs protecting so my instincts are high to make sure she stays safe. Her heels click along the pavement in no hurry, blonde hair floating behind her like cotton in the wind. I shake my head at how lovely she is. How perfect for Marnie.
Opening her driver’s door she calls out, “I’m okay, Max! You’re so sweet, thank you!”
I give her a wave and as the headlights come on I shut my door, lock the deadbolt and turn to see Natalie glaring at me.
My eyebrows shoot up. “What’s that face for?”
She smoothes it away. “I had something in my eye.”
“Yeah, hate.”
“Ha hah.”
“Seriously, what was that look?”
“I’m tired, Max. That’s all you saw.”
Irritated I motion to the door. “Then go home and sleep.”
She snaps her computer bag shut and stands up, running a hand over her sleek bangs. “Fine, that’s a great idea. I was hoping for a way out of here and now I have one.”
Anger flies into my veins, voice rising. “Why’d you even come here then? You’re two hours late! You couldn’t show up yesterday and the day before you only gave me an hour and a half! Now you tell me that? What the hell, Natalie?”
In thigh-high black boots, black turtleneck and mini-skirt, she storms over to her coat. “Nothing, everything is great. I’m just tired and I want to be in bed where there’s a soft pillow and warm tea and maybe I’ll light some incense and meditate my way out of this hell!”
She’s been struggling to get that coat on and doesn’t realize it’s upside down. Her arm keeps trying to angle the right way to make it work. Huffing, I remove it from her, turn it around and hold it open.
She exhales, shakes her head and slides her arms through, frozen and blinking at my floor.
My voice is gentler as I ask, “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing, I’m just…work is so…” Her face twists like she might lose it, but she takes a deep breath and finishes, “I’m fine. Just need some sleep.”
As she buttons up I run a hand over my sweater because it feels like my chest might explode. I thought we were getting close, like something was happening between us. Ever since we spent almost the whole day naked at her place, she’s been harder to reach. “Your schedule used to be a lot freer.”
“Yeah, well, that’s changed.”
“On purpose?”
She meets my eyes, surprised. “No! I want to be part of this project!”
“Then why were you looking for a reason to leave right now? Stay with me a while.”
CHAPTER 24
N ATALIE
I s he really that oblivious?
The way he and Colleen flirted their asses off in front of me, did he think I’d be okay with that? But I have too much pride to say it hurt me. Was it just in
