“Good. Great actually.” There’s a slight hesitation on the other end. “Is something wrong? Or did you need something for the movie?”
“Not wrong at all. We—my production partner, Evan—and I wondered if you’re available to fly out for a few days.”
“Oh, wow. To LA? Of course. I can make time. What’s going on?”
“We’re casting Cal, and it would help to see your chemistry with one of the actors we’re considering.”
“Do you know when? I just need to get time off from the show.”
“Right. We’re coordinating with him and his agent now, but we’ll work around you, I’m sure, since we all live here in the city. My assistant, Graham, will reach out to you and make the arrangements.”
“Oh, Graham, so will he—”
“She,” I correct with a smile because everyone assumes that. “I’ll make sure she has your number so we can go from there.”
“Cool.”
I should hang up now, but do I?
“So how have you been?” I ask . . . stupidly.
“Um, great. And you? Not working too hard, I hope.”
“I always work hard, but I’m trying to take it easier before we go into production.”
“Katherine let me take some of Dessi’s diaries and letters. She didn’t even know half that stuff was back there. I thought it might be useful as I prepare. Verity took some, too.”
“Oh, I didn’t even realize that.”
“I’m sorry. If we weren’t supposed to—”
“It’s fine. I grabbed some stuff, too. Katherine’s been really generous.” I shuffle a stack of the multi-colored cards I keep for storyboarding. “Thanks again for talking to her about including some of the new things we discovered.”
“It was nothing. She’s sweet.”
“You’re good with people.”
“Not all people,” she says, something like irony inflected in her voice. “Sometimes it’s easier to be good with people you don’t know than the ones you do. Than the ones who know you.”
My hands still, and I’m not sure how to respond to that. Everyone tastes my impatience at some point, especially when I’m working. Neevah will probably find that out for herself.
“Well, you were good with Katherine,” I say. “And it’ll help us in the long run.”
“Thanks.”
“So you’re still with Splendor. How’s that going?”
Why am I extending this conversation?
“Yeah,” she replies. “Same. Still understudy, but I have gotten onstage a few other times. The lead had a stomach bug—not that I wanted her to be sick or anything. I just meant—”
“Of course not. So you’re staying busy.”
“I’ve been gigging a little more, too, when I can. Like singing some here in the city.”
“You have a beautiful voice.” Unnecessary compliment.
“So do you,” she says.