Page 131 of The Book of Luke

She exhales. “You know about PB’s original contract? The hosting gig?”

“That’s the last thing I thought you’d say, but yeah. Looks like Ecklund’s staying.”

“Actually Drew’s set to host the network’s morning show starting in the new year, not announced yet.”

I shift on my feet. “So will they hire PB?”

“The execs say he never achieved the redemption arc he needed.”

“He rushed to his comatose best friend and reunited with the love of his life!”

“And left spitting like a cobra while he did it. Not the best look.”

“Can I help with the optics? He and I could still shoot something forAlone Together?”

She swallows. “The network will only approve PB as host if you return toEndeavor. You’re the biggest fish they have.”

“Zara, it’s a miracle I’m not paralyzed,” I laugh bitterly. “It’s not physically possible.”

“I’d never bet against you… and you wouldn’t just be helping PB.” Her face darkens. “Hartt and Chrissy refuse to appear if Melange does.The network has invested a lot in Hartt. They’ll lose him for you, but not Melange.”

“But she was a superstar this season!” I protest. “Does Melange know?”

Zara shakes her head. “It’s not just her. Erika too.”

“There’s no way the network’s dumping Erika after she won tonight.”

“Gone Bollywood’s been off the air since 2007. There’s no more cross-promotional benefits. The only reason Erika kept getting cast was because Imogen put it in her deal. But she’s not making deals anymore, and I’ve been explicitly told you’re the only one who can.”

She stares at me intently. “Luke, I know I can make this show better with Troy gone, change who’s on it, how it treats people. But I can’t do it alone. I… Well, I need a linebacker.”

Could I do it? Leave the kids again, even briefly? With this wrecked body? There’s no way, and yet I can’t forget someone once made a deal for me. “When do you need to know?”

“Monday,” she says. “Production starts in January. Bolivia, foothills of the Andes.”

“I need to talk with the kids and Barnes, but let’s be clear: this isn’t me saying yes.”

She holds my gaze. “You’re not saying no either.”

“Ugh, I deserve an Emmy for costume design,” Melange gripes, shedding her wings in the green room. I rest the giant red accessories against the wall, wondering if I should warn her that her job is on the line. Or get her blessing to refuse Zara’s offer?

“I barely saw you today you were so busy getting dressed. You really started at 8:00 a.m.?”

She winces. “That might have been a little fib.”

It’s all over her face. “You saw Shawn.”

“I actually met him at his new condo in Woodland Hills.”

“I’ve never been to that part of town.”

“Christ, who has?” she mutters with a smile. “He’s enrolled at CalState Northridge, studying speech pathology. Apparently there’s a good job market for it. Who knew?”

I know it’s not even a question. “So he’s okay.”

“He should tell you the rest, not me.” She pulls a cocktail napkin from her bag. “I bring gifts from the deep Valley. From someone missing you more than he’ll admit.”

I unfold the napkin to find a phone number hastily written in ballpoint pen. Always napkins with him, it seems. “His new digits,” she confirms. “He clearly misses you like crazy, and since you’re wrapped on the Lukey-Barnesy Comedy Hour and camera-free for a while…”