“But a man who dates a lot of women isn’t necessarily bad. If you said that about another woman, I’d have your hide, and you know it,” I challenged.
“You got that right.” She tapped her phone with her fingernail. “But this guy…he isn’t worth a second thought. He’s nothing special. He’s just a rock star cliché twatwaffle. Yes, you’ll have to work with him, and he’s a talented musician, so that’ll work out fine. But there’s no reason you have to have anything to do with him beyond that. If you don’t take this opportunity, I’ll let Theo into your room while you’re asleep.”
I gasped, looking at down at the furry boy in my lap. “But he’ll meow me awake and tell me stories all night long.”
“Yep,” Haven said smugly.
Theo was the most vocal cat I’d ever met, and hereallyliked to talk to me, whether I wanted to hear his cat nonsense or not. Haven made him stay in the living room so we could all get some sleep. If she’d let him in my room, I’d be up all night.
“Fine. I’ll go.”
She pumped her fist in the air, triumphant. “I always win.”
“I’m not gonna miss that smug face.”
“You will, don’t lie.”
I grinned at her, taking a mental picture of her blue hair piled atop her head, her elfin features scrubbed free of makeup, and her smile so bright, she nearly glowed.
“I will.” I nudged her leg with my toes. “Are you ever gonna mentionyouraudition?”
“It was good.”
“That’s all?” I asked.
On top of being a pixie alien, Haven was an actress. Last year, she’d landed a short-lived role in the chorus of a Broadway show, but her big break hadn’t happened yet. When she wasn’t waitressing, she was auditioning or taking classes. Haven wasn’t passive in her pursuit of her dream and she’d been excited for today’s audition for an off-Broadway musical.
“If I say how much I want this role, I’ll get nervous and vomit all over you.”
I recoiled, laughing. “Then by all means, keep those lips clamped shut. Can I ask yes or no questions?”
She nodded.
“Okay...did you sing?”
Nod.
“Dance?”
Another nod.
“Did the director smile at you at any point?”
She shook her head.
“We both know that doesn’t really mean anything. Most theatre directors in New York are much too cool to do something as pedestrian as smile.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Haven nodded.
“Think you’ll get a callback?”
She nodded slowly, like she didn’t want to disturb anything in the universe, setting off a chain reaction that would result in hernotgetting a callback.
“Are you really fuckin’ amazing?”
She nodded with enthusiasm.
“Do you love me forever and ever?”
Her arms spread wide, and I fell into them, laughing. Theo hopped off me, meowing over the disturbance in his resting place.
Nothing had changed, except now everything was all right.