Page 14

A nthony

This is supposed to be my second chance, but it’s not the one that I want.

I’m sitting in the same chair I was the last time I auditioned, but the nerves that I was feeling then, aren’t here now.

Instead, all I feel is empty.

I haven’t been able to shake this feeling since I came back to the penthouse and found out that Emerson had left without a word.

I tried to call her right away but she didn’t answer.

I had tried to tell myself it was just because she was on the plane and that she would call me back after she landed.

When she didn’t, I had told myself that she was just tired, but then I tried to call her the next day and she never answered. All of my phone calls have gone unanswered.

She hasn’t been responding to any of my text messages either, but I can’t seem to stop myself from trying to reach out to her. I know that she’s reading them and every time I see that, I hold my breath, hoping that this is the time that she finally messages me back.

So far it hasn’t been.

A hand comes down on my shoulder and I jerk out of my thoughts, looking up into Theo’s smiling face. He just got back from Europe and stopped to see me perform before we head back to Los Angeles to pack up our place.

“Hey, man. You all set?” he asks, looking around the club.

The lights are dim and more and more people are starting to pile in. It looks like it will be a full house tonight. That should make me feel something but it doesn’t.

I need Emerson.

As if my thoughts have conjured her up, she walks into the club. Layla is beside her, excitedly talking to her as she points out something on the other side of the room. I don’t look though. My eyes are too busy taking in every detail of Emerson’s face like I’m a man starved. I guess I am.

“Is that her?” Theo asks and I nod, not tearing my eyes away from her.

“The redhead or the one with the black hair?”

“Red.”

“So I can have the black-haired one?” Theo asks and I snort, looking up at him.

I look over to Emerson and her friend, studying the two of them for a moment before I turn back to Theo.

“She looks like she would eat you up and spit you out,” I warn and he shrugs.

“We’ll see about that.”

Theo heads across the room, squeezing by a few people on his way to her and I follow eagerly. This could be my one chance to talk to Emerson, to apologize and try to win her back.

“Hey, ladies,” Theo says charmingly.

“Emerson,” I say, far less eloquently.

“Hey,” she says shyly, her blue eyes skirting away from mine.

“Can we talk somewhere private?” I ask, wanting to reach out and touch her.

“Isn’t your show starting soon?”

“I’ve got a few minutes.”

I don’t want to let her go yet. She could be gone by the time that I finish up my set. I can’t let her slip through my fingers again.

“Um, okay,” she says, looking over to Layla.

Theo and her are deep in conversation though, so she’s no help.

I grab Emerson’s hand and lead her into the back hallway that leads to the offices and green room.

“Hey, I’ve missed you,” I say once I’m sure that we’re alone.

“Yeah, I’ve uh, I’ve got your messages.”

“I know. You left me on read.”

She looks away, her cheeks heating until they’re almost as red as her hair.

“I deserved it. The way we left things… I was an asshole to you, Emerson. I just froze. I’m so sorry about that.”

“It hurt. Me saying that and then you just pretending like you didn’t hear me.”

“I know and I’m so sorry.”

She turns away from me and I can practically see the wheels turning in her pretty head. Is she going to forgive me? Will she give me, give us, another chance?

“Okay.”

“Okay?” I ask.

“Yeah, I forgive you.”

My whole body relaxes at her words and I didn’t realize how on edge I was. Emerson gives me a smile, laughing at my expression and I give her a cocky grin. The one that I know she loves so much.

“So, what now? Do you want to start dating? We can take this slow, give this a chance. I know that I took you by surprise when I said that I––”

“I love you,” I blurt out, shocking both of us.

I can’t stand the thought of taking things slow with her now. It would feel like we were taking a step back and I want a future with her. I want everything with her.

“What?” She asks her eyes wide and locked on my face. “What did you just say?”

“I love you. I’ve never felt this way about anyone, I’ve never said those words to anyone, but of course I love you. How could anyone not?”

Emerson stares at me, her eyes studying my face. I wonder if she can see how much I love her. I feel like my face softens and tiny hearts dance in my eyes every time I look at her.

“Alright.”

“Alright?”

“Alright, you get one more chance. I know that you need to get ready for your set, so I’ll let you focus. We can talk more over dinner tomorrow. Text me, I’ll answer this time,” she says before she disappears back out into the belly of the club.

I grin, feeling like I’m floating on a cloud as I watch her go find her seat with Layla and Theo.

Ari comes by a few seconds later, giving me a small smirk and I know that she heard every word that we just said.

“Good luck tonight,” she says as she passes and I follow her out, sitting back down in my chair.

I go last tonight and I’m thankful that I’ll have some time to get my head on straight before I take the stage.

When my name is called, I grin, listening as Theo, Layla, and Emerson all cheer for me in the back of the room.

I walk on stage, ready to nail this audition, get the spot in this comedy club, and then win my girl back.