“Wait, are you an agent?”
“Yes Miss Earhart, I thought that was clear.”
“I just... umm, wow. I’m surprised you’re contacting me.”
“Why don’t you come into our office this week and we can discuss a potential contract?”
I felt like I was dreaming as I set up the meeting with the talent agent. Four years of struggling and I’d never booked an agent. Now they were calling me. Was this the start of a whole new life?
I burned with excitement when I got off the phone, but then a pang of sadness hit me, because my first urge had been to call Jessica to tell her about it. Why couldn’t I stop thinking about her? She was a jerk. She’d used me, treated me like I was disposable. Made me feel like I was nothing to her.
I couldn’t ever let that happen again.
Instead of calling Jessica, I called my mom, who was so excited she could hardly breathe.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to come to the screening premiere of Real Love,” she gushed. “I might actually die of joy!”
I laughed. “Well, I’d love if you could make it.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Sorry, I’m getting another call,” I said, looking at the unknown number on my phone.
“Better take it! It’s probably another agent trying to snatch you up before you become a big star.”
I grinned as I said goodbye before taking the call, sure it was just a debt collector. Except it wasn’t; it was another agent. I could barely make sense of what was happening.
From my conversation with the second agent, I found out that the latest trailer for Real Love had been released and was apparently stirring up a storm online.
I chewed my lip as I debated with myself, finally deciding to watch the trailer. It wasn’t like I wanted to recreate my memories with Jessica. In fact, I was over Jessica, living my new life of apparent stardom. But still, watching the trailer couldn’t hurt, right?
I pulled the video up on my laptop, a strange feeling stirring in my stomach. Seeing myself acting was so weird, but I couldn’t help feeling proud of the way I carried the character off. The screen flashed to an image of Jessica’s hand on my thigh and cut away quickly. My heartbeat quickened.
Our lips together.
Her hands in my hair.
I slammed the laptop shut.
I was over Jessica. So over her. Over the second guessing and the hurt she caused me with her lies and acting. I was over her.
How many times did I have to say that to myself before it became true?
22.
Jessica
“It’s been two months since that little jerk broke your heart.” Oliver skewered a breakfast sausage on his fork. “You should’ve at least had a hookup by now.”
I winced. I didn’t want random sex with someone I barely knew. I wanted a connection. I wanted Amelia. But I’d screwed all that up and maybe she was better off without me.
“I guess I don’t move on as fast as you do.” I gave him my best smile to hide how much I was still hurting. In Oliver’s world, the best way to get over a breakup was to get into a new relationship—which he’d done, almost immediately after Mel smashed his heart into pieces. He and his new girlfriend were happy and I was happy for them, but I didn’t work quite the same way. My relationship with Amelia had felt like the first real connection I’d had in a long time.
Part of me was dismayed to see that Amelia’s career was really taking off. I’d seen online that she’d scored a big role in a historical film that was destined for the Oscars. I was happy for her, happy that her dreams were coming true after she’d worked so hard to achieve them. I just hoped she’d never stop being herself. How long had I been in the business before I stopped being me?
“You guys ordered without me?” Sara walked up to our table at the cafe, looking indignant.
“Sorry.” I smiled at her. “But if it makes you feel any better, I’ve barely eaten.”