I got down lower to search further into the bush for that damn dog.
I was actually relieved to know that my co-star would be another straight girl. I wasn’t sure why it’d made me nervous to be kissing and making eyes at a gay woman. I just, well, I wouldn’t want her to develop feelings or anything.
I know, I know, I sound vain as hell, but off-screen romances developed all the time between co-stars. I guess it made sense. Actors are chosen not just for their ability as individuals, but for the chemistry they have together.
Hell, Jessica was currently dating the actor from her upcoming straight romance, and had dated every co-star before him. (Okay, you caught me, I do follow her in the tabloids. But in my defence, it’s hard to avoid news about the biggest star in cinema.)
Well, if chemistry was what would win me the role, I already considered it lost—just like this poor puppy that I was feeling worse and worse for, even as the perspiration of searching for her stung the scratches she’d given me when she’d knocked me from the pavement.
“Marshmallow!” I called out. “Marshmall—” My words cut off as another sneeze ripped through me.
“Ruff!”
I turned, joy washing through me the moment I locked eyes with that sweet little marshmallow. She sat wagging her tail, yapping cheerfully like she wanted me to come play with her.
“Hey, girl.” I held out my hand for her to sniff, silently begging her not to bolt. “Sorry I was rude to you earlier, I was just in a hurry.”
She approached with a clumsy little pounce and nuzzled against my hand. I scooped her up and she immediately curled against my chest. My racing heart seemed to calm at the contact, even as I felt my eyes already beginning to burn with irritation.
For the second time that day, I ran to the studio. I threw open the doors and shouted breathlessly, “Is this her?”
The receptionist looked at me for one agonizing moment. (Imagine if I went out and grabbed the wrong dog like a crazy person.)
“Oh my gosh!” She raced towards me. “I can’t wait to tell Jess!”
“Tell me what?” A slender form appeared in the doorway, sending a jolt of intimidation down my spine. She wasn’t just intimidating in her height, which in four inch heels, made her tower over me. Everything about being in the same room with the real Jessica Black was terrifying. Her perfectly curled blonde hair, glowing skin and piercing blue eyes made me so aware of what a fucking mess I must’ve been at that moment.
“We found Cleo!” The receptionist turned, taking Marshmallow from my arms to show Jessica.
“Oh my God!” Relief washed over her features as she practically threw herself towards us, snatching the puppy from the receptionist. “I’m so sorry.”
At first I thought she was apologizing to me for this fiasco, then I realized her babbled apology was directed toward the dog. Of course.
“Where did you find her?” She looked up at me for the first time. “I just left the room and she was gone!”
“I found her outside on the way here.”
“What were you doing outside?” She looked at the puppy incredulously and I really wished I could say the interaction wasn’t adorable. I still wanted to hate Jessica, but when she pulled me into a huge hug, my frustration with her melted as one thought ran through my head.
I’m being hugged by Jessica Black. No fucking way.
Then I remembered I’d be doing a lot more than hugging her if this audition went well. I swallowed hard as I inhaled the sharp cinnamon of her perfume before she pulled away, leaving me a mess of burning eyes and stuffy nose. I could practically see the dog hair floating around her like a halo.
“What are you doing?” someone shouted from the door behind us. “Get in here.”
“I guess we should get started, huh?” she said sheepishly.
Part of me wanted to respond with a bitchy remark like, yeah, we should’ve gotten started forty minutes ago. But I couldn't actually respond with anything, because a sneeze tore through me. I turned and covered my face in the crook of my elbow just in time to avoid sneezing all over Jessica and the receptionist.
“Are you feeling okay?” Jessica eyed me suspiciously, no doubt wondering if she was going to get sick from our proximity.
The voice returned with more urgency, “Let’s go!”
I followed Jessica down the hall into a fairly standard audition room. A long table was set up at one end with a large open space in front of it for the actors to move around. Marshmallow jumped out of Jessica’s arms and onto a little pillow in the corner that had apparently been set up for her. I tried not to roll my itchy eyes.
Three casting dir
ectors sat at the table looking justifiably cranky. I groaned inwardly that Jessica had already exhausted their patience. Of course this was all a joke to her, but my entire future rode on this audition.