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“Better. But I want to feel it here.” Carly placed a hand over herheart. “I can help. You’re awesome at interacting with people. Organizingthings.”

“That one is true. I’m like the Marie Kondo of theater.”

Carly continued her list. It honestly wasn’t hard thinking ofthings Lauren excelled at. “Pool. Multitasking. Creating likable charactersonstage.”

“Thank you for that. I needed to hear that.”

“Making people feel important. Kissing.”

Lauren blinked at her, opened her mouth and closed it. Her cheekspinked up until she was a rosy shade of adorable. “Should we let that one go?”

“If you want,” Carly said, casually. She loved affecting Lauren inany way she could. It was her favorite new pastime. That blush was worth itsweight in gold, and now Carly was all hot and bothered. “Doesn’t change thefact that I believe it. I’ve had multiple opportunities now to find out.” Shetook a sip of her Diet Coke. “Stop me if I’m out of line, but you have reallynice lips.”

Lauren didn’t say anything for a moment or two, and Carly gave herthat space. “So do you,” she said finally, with a shy grin.

“And you really know how to use them.” Carly slid the rest of thefries to Lauren. The rosy cheeks remained.

“You make my head get a little crazy when you say things likethat.”

“You’re not my stage manager anymore, you know.”

“I know.”

“Does that…change the rules at all? Can I file some kind ofofficial request with a union to flirt with you on occasion?” She made a showof glancing around the bar for a spot to do just that.

Lauren smiled. “I can admit that there’s…something indescribablethere.”

“Lust,” Carly said matter-of-factly.

Lauren choked on a fry. Carly laughed and handed her a pile ofnapkins. “I was just kidding. Well, only kind of.”

Lauren finally swallowed and rebounded. “Sorry. Wasn’t expectingthat. Man, you just get right to it, don’t you?”

“Life is short, Lauren. I happen to like living it.”

“I don’t live life that much,” Lauren said to her drink. “I wasgoing to take a vacation. My first one in years. In fact, I’m supposed to be ona beach in the Caribbean right now. Instead I’m starring in a major productionand having lunch at a bar with a very famous movie star.” She shook her headand smiled. “I’m not complaining.”

“Neither am I. I’m at Put Upon Pete’s in Minneapolis with the mostintriguing woman I’ve ever met. Also, the most beautiful.”

“Oh, look at you, working it hard.” Lauren laughed.

“You haven’t seen anything yet.” Carly glanced at her watch.“Shall we? We need to allow five minutes for the drive and another five to payour bill. Listen, I wouldn’t want you to be late. Good thing you have me tolook out for you.”

Lauren gasped. “Is this the Upside Down? What is happening?Where’s the starlet I came here with?”

“She could be the one you go home with,” Carly said, with anotherplayful wink.

“Carly!” Lauren covered her eyes.

Carly chuckled to herself as she paid the bill. “Drink that.” Sheslid the untouched shot toward Lauren. “It will get you out of your head andthrough your first day. Our little secret.”

With a dramatic sigh, Lauren downed the shot with one gesture atthe same time that old eighties song “You Give Love a Bad Name” blared throughthe speakers. Sexy as fucking hell and entirely apropos.

“This was a good lunch,” Carly said, marveling.

“Agreed.” Lauren smiled. “C’mon. Let’s get back to work.”

The rest of rehearsal had to be the most satisfying four hoursCarly had spent in her entire acting career. Lauren opened up, bringing allkinds of levels to Mandy, which only inspired Carly’s own emotional creativity.Under Ethan’s guidance, they tried one approach, then another. As the day wenton, Ethan released each cast member individually, until only Lauren and Carlyremained. That’s when they really dug in and made one fruitful discovery afteranother. Carly laughed, cried, and lost herself in Ashley, leaving her asatisfied bundle of excitement by the end of rehearsal.