15
Everything she had wanted was right there in front of her. But it was lacking what she wanted most. Even though Paully Jones said she aced her private audition, her heart wasn’t in it. Dylan had left. This had all come about because of him and he was who she wanted to share her joy with.
“Mr. Jones, I really appreciate your offer. And the fact that you actually flew out here to meet with me is something I’ll never forget. But the timing isn’t right. Actually it’s a bit late.”
“You already are committed for another film?” he asked.
“No. But I do have another commitment. One that means the world to me.”
He smiled. “Mr. Lawson is a lucky man. Not many women would give up an opportunity like this for love.”
Love.That’s exactly what was keeping her there. “Being with him is the role of a lifetime.” And one she was working to prefect.
“If you change your mind, give me a call.” He handed her his business card. “I can’t promise you that the offer will still be available, but I have connections. I’m sure I can put in a good word for you.”
“Thank you.” She slipped the card into her purse and said, “If you don’t mind, I’d like to tell Dylan myself.”
“Of course.” Paully turned to leave the restaurant and Sofia was left standing there alone.
She wanted to rush right to Dylan and tell him she loved him. Yet how was she going to explain that he’d gone through all this effort for her and she just turned down the opportunity of a lifetime? Sofia didn’t want to disappoint him, but she couldn’t see any way around it. No matter what, it was as though she was backing down from everything she had said. She didn’t want a family, now she does. She wanted to be a famous actress, now she doesn’t. If she wasn’t careful, the next thing would be she wanted to someday run Mama’s Place. Even that thought didn’t disturb her like it used too.
Once again, Sofia felt a bit lightheaded. She still hadn’t eaten and that added onto everything else today, was more than she could take. So she headed for the limo and asked him to stop and get her a milk and some crackers on the way back home. She didn’t even have the energy to get out and go into the store herself. She knew it would pass once she ate something. Even though she was hungry enough to eat an entire pizza herself, her nerves was playing havoc on her stomach and the last thing she wanted to do was hurl on Dylan while she was professing her love for him. She did say the next surprise was coming from her, but that wasn’t how she wanted to present it.
When the limo driver returned and handed her the items she said, “Could I trouble you to do me one more favor?”
“It’s no trouble at all. What do you need?”
“Flowers,” she said.
“Is there any certain kind?” he asked.
She had no clue. What flower do you get a man when you want to say I love you? Sofia couldn’t come up with anything. “Maybe we skip the flowers. I just need something, But I’m not sure exactly what.”
“If you want to tell me what you’re trying to do, then maybe I can offer a suggestion.”
Although she had become accustom to having Dylan’s driver take her around town, she wasn’t so comfortable as to share her dilemma with him. She contemplated on calling Charlene, but that call would go on forever and by the end, it would be something absolutely ridiculous. Charlene was awesome, but she liked to get her freak on and was always trying to get Sofia to do the same. There was no problem with that, but this was not the occasion.
If she called her mother, that would be as good as putting it in the newspaper or heck, maybe even the national news. But her advice would be sound. She’d gotten to talk to Rosslyn many times over the last few months, but she had her hands full. Was the driver really her only option?
No.“I just need a few minutes to make a call and I’ll let you know.”
“Whenever you’re ready miss.” He rolled up the divider window as she pulled out her cell phone.
The timing for this was the worst. Friday nights were crazy busy, but this was important. Hopefully he was free to take her call. It rang a few times, but finally he answered.
“I thought you lost my number,” Sal said when he answered.
“Phones work both ways you know.”
“Who needs to call when I can get all the news I want from Mama and Charlene. Seems like things are going really good in Manhattan. I’m happy for you.”
“Really Sal? Because I know in the beginning you weren’t thrilled I was dating Dylan.” She never forgot that first family dinner together. It was tense.
“That’s because something felt…off. But Charlene explained everything to me.”
She what?“What exactly did she say?”
“That you were sneaking out to Manhattan at night because you were in a play and didn’t have the balls to tell the folks. So you and Dylan concocted this stupid plan to look like a couple. Guess that didn’t go as planned.”