Page 47 of Charming Like Us

Despite this current Houdini situation.

“You regretting this show?” I ask Jack as he finishes buttoning his slacks. “Now’s the time to back out.”

Jack smiles, but it’s a weaker one. “I’ve considered it.”

Rare surprise hits me. “Really?”

He slips his arms in the button-down. “Probably not why you think.”

“I’m thinking it’s because Charlie can be a pain in the ass.”

Jack laughs. “I’m fine with that, really. I just don’t know if I can put a crew through this. Fuck, I don’t know if a crew wouldwantto do this.”

“Why do you?” I wonder.

He fishes buttons through his shirt. His mouth opens, then closes, then opens again. “Honestly…being a creator of a show has been a lifelong goal. I’m stoked to be where I am on the docuseries, but I’m also just one of many execs onWe Are Calloway. Butthis…this would be mine.” He tucks the button-down in his slacks. “And like, sure, don’t attach your dreams to a sinking ship, but I’ve also never closed a door to an opportunity this big.”

I didn’t realize how much this means to him. “You were the extra-credit, straight-A high school student, weren’t you?” I sweep his frame. “And the category is,overachiever.”

He looks me up and down. “Didn’t you get straight-As? Yale, right?”

I nod heartily.

But the room deadens until I vocally answer, “But I wouldn’t call myself an overachiever.” Jack and I—we have a lot we can relate to.

Ivy League grads.

Little brothers ten-years younger.

This, though, this is where we diverge. “I don’t have lifelong goals that kick my ass up the rungs of a career ladder,” I say, our eyes locked. “There is no yearning for more when I have exactly what I want righthere. I had the wholefight harder, achieve greaterwhen I was a pro-boxer, and I landed flat on my face.”

I’ve failed too many times in my life to think sticking any type of dreams on any ship will sail me to shore.

Jack slips on his shoes and tells me, “I can’t imagine a life where I don’t pursue what I want…” His voice drifts off with his eyes.

Is it selfish to wish he was thinking about me?

I push some curls off my forehead. Jack is so driven, so optimistic, sohopefulthat he can achieve the pinnacle of success—whatever that is to him, and now I know it’sthisshow.

I’ve felt failure, and it’s a shitty fucking thing.

Maybe I can try to make this shit show about Charlie Cobalt actually work—for him and his dreams at least. It’s a scary prospect, because for my job, burying this show into the ground would be easiest.

A notification pings my phone. “Our ride is here.”

Jack spreads out his arms, my slacks molding his ass and my button-down a little tight on his chest and biceps, accentuating his muscles. “Perfect fit?” His flirty smile causes my mouth to curve up in a grin.

If you were my boyfriend, I’d fuck you.

I nod a few times. “Yeah.” My grin fades knowing he’s nothing to me, just a guy I’m working with. “Perfect fit.”

11

OSCAR OLIVEIRA

“Maison bondée,”Gaspard tells me outside the cabaret. “Je ne sais pas s'il est à l'intérieur, mais vous êtes invités à regarder.”Packed house. I don’t know if he’s inside, but you’re welcome to look.

“Merci,” I say as Gaspard lets me and Jack into the side entrance of Le Chat Rouge.