Exit Stage Left by Larsen Patti

Author:Larsen, Patti
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, death, actors, acting, theater, stage play, new adult, new adult romance
Publisher: Patti Larsen

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Chapter Fifteen

Aunt Vonda is so excited the next morning when I tell her what I have planned, she spills her tea all over the table. I accept her hug with one of my own, though I’m beginning to think if the people who love me don’t stop choking me, I won’t be around much longer.

She sits back, clapping like a crazy lady, red-tinted curls barely moving as she bounces in her seat.

“Riley,” she gushes all over me, “that’s so wonderful!”

We walk together to work, my few hours of sleep enough to keep my spirits up, tied to the excitement of knowing tomorrow night I’ll be auditioning for my first real show. My first New York show.

It’s hard to focus on flowers and customer’s orders, especially when Aunt Vonda proceeds to inform anyone who will listen I’m going to be a famous actress someday. When I’m not blushing furiously and hissing at her to be quiet, I’m giggling behind my hands in giddy half-hysteria at the thought she might be right.

I’m actually disappointed when Miller and Aleah, Piper in tow, don’t appear at all during the day. I was so sure they would come to see me. But I end up shaking my head at myself, settling my nerves and my excitement. Silly, I’d be seeing them later.

For more rehearsals.

I’m shocked when I slip out of the back from a short break to the sound of the doorbell, look up, and find Bianca standing at the counter. My whole body shudders, zinging pops of pinpoint needles racing down my limbs at the sight of her. I realize then I’m afraid of her, intimidated.

And no matter what I do to shake off the feeling, I can’t seem to manage it.

But Aunt Vonda is gone and there is no one else to serve her. I feel my cheeks heat as I walk to the counter, oddly embarrassed Bianca is seeing me like this. Self-conscious, smoothing the front of my pink apron even as I wonder if I look like crap and hate that I care. I meet Bianca’s eyes.

Expecting a bitch to stare back at me. Some harsh words, bitterness. Instead, she smiles at me, full of charm and charisma, leaning over the counter to squeeze my wrist as though she didn’t do her damnedest last night to squash my heart and stomp on it with her high heels.

“Riley,” she says in her sultry voice. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

She is? I stiffen as she pulls back, blonde hair rippling. She looks flawless, perfection, exactly how a New York actor should look. And I’m all frumpy in my stained pink apron and hair haphazardly hanging from the messy knot at my neck.

Bianca’s smile fades a little as she rests her manicured hands on the counter. “I wanted to apologize,” she says. “For last night. Thank you for coming to my show.”

I know I’m staring and look like she just hit me, but I can’t seem to call up much more than that. Is she bipolar? Has an evil twin?

“You really did make an impression last night,” she goes on.

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