Page 23 of Come to Me

"So, you'll work at it."

"I'll miss him. We'll fight. Resentment will grow. I can't do it."

Laurie furrows her brow, considering my words.

"But can you really say no to the lead in a Broadway revival? Really?"

I bite my lip. "How can I say yes?"

"Just... do it. Just call your agent and say yes. It will be the best six months of your life. It's New York, for God's sake!"

I shake my head. I wish I had Laurie's optimism, but it really isn't worth the risk.

Not to me. Not if I could lose Luke.

* * *

I get home late,but Luke is still in his suit.

He looks like he's been waiting for me.

He greets me at the door with a long kiss.

I feel calmer already. Right now, I need to be in his arms, need to feel his body around mine so my stupid brain will shut up.

The last time I tried to take a life-changing role, I put my entire life in disarray. Sure, it ended well.

But my life needed changing then.

Right now, everything is good. I can't mess it up.

Luke pulls away, his dark eyes still on mine. He smiles. "I got you something," he announces.

"Really?"

He nods, disappearing into the bedroom and returning with an over-sized hot pink gift bag.

He moves closer to me again, until his body is flat against mine.

God, he feels so good, so hard and safe. I wrap my arms around him, savoring the feel of him. He smells good, not like my honey shampoo but like Luke.

"Go on," he urges, handing me the hot pink bag.

What is it?

I tear out the purple paper decorating the bag and reach inside. I feel something slick and thin. It's a poster. One of those matte posters pasted on cardboard.

What the hell?

I pull it out of the bag.

My heart skips a beat as I see it for the first time.

It's a mockup. The poster for the original Broadway run ofA Streetcar Named Desire--a silhouette of a debutante against a gorgeous red background--with my name replacing the original Blanche.

My heart starts to pound in my chest. My mouth goes dry. Even my lungs feel empty.

It's a mockup of the poster with my name.