Page 29 of Forbidden Romeo
"Are you kidding? Say yes!" I blurted out. Katherine looked at me in surprise. "This is your dream, you have to go for it," I continued earnestly. I reached out to take her hand. “Who cares about finishing this program if you have a shot at a Broadway role.”
“Excuse me,” McCay said, her tone clipped. “I see one of our benefactors, I should go say hi.”
With that, she disappeared into the crowd, thank God. And good riddance.
Mr. Abrams examined me for a long moment. "It’s refreshing to see a fellow actor so genuinely supportive and excited for another actor’s success.”
“Oh,” I snorted. “I’m not really an actor.”
Mr. Abrams’ smile lifted. “Don’t mistake my excitement for Ms. Harris to mean you were not also wonderful. You have a great future ahead of you as well… if you want it. “
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Did I want it?
“I just wish Professor McCay had the faith in me that you do, Mr. Abrams,” Katherine said, her voice small in a way that made my heart ache for her.
“Well, it makes sense considering how much you look like Kaylie O’Malley.”
Katherine nodded in agreement as though she knew what he was talking about. “Who’s that?” I asked.
“She’s a Broadway actress.”
“Not just a Broadway actress… the Broadway actress. And she was your professor’s understudy. Until one day Laurie wasn’t able to go on stage, O’Malley went on in her place… and was such a star, she couldn’t be denied. They gave her Laurie’s part.”
I blinked in shock. “And … and Katherine looks like her?”
Mr. Abrams nodded. “The spitting image.” He handed Katherine his card. "Think it over and give me a call. I really think you could have a future on the stage.” He paused and pointed at me. “Both of you.”
Katherine thanked him quietly, still seeming shocked.
As Mr. Abrams said his goodbyes, I searched the room, catching sight of Professor McCay where she spoke with a group across the room. But her eyes were set on Katherine, fury burning in her expression.
I followed Katherine’s gaze to where she landed on McCay, too and I noted the way her fingers trembled.
Clearing my throat, I stepped into her line of sight, blocking the view of McCay’s scowl.
With shaking hands, Katherine tucked the business card into her clutch, the weight of possibility pressing down on her.
I watched her for a moment, the reflection of her dreams lighting up her eyes, before she turned to me, a mix of excitement and apprehension painting her features. "Holden," she began softly, a tremor in her voice betraying the storm beneath her calm exterior, "what if?—"
I pressed my finger to her lips to quiet her. “No what ifs tonight.”
“But—”
“No buts either. Unless it’s your butt. Wiggling in my lap.”
The concern lifted briefly as a smile brightened her expression. “So what do we do now?”
Leaning in, I brushed my lips against hers and she shuddered a delicious little shiver. “Now… now, we celebrate.”
CHAPTER 12
Despite our agreement to talk tonight after rehearsal, after I change out of my costume, Holden is nowhere to be seen.
I search the wings and the green room as well as the audience, but when I come out on the stage, the only person in the front row, packing up her things… is Addison.
Exhausted and weary from the stress of the last few weeks, I scrub my palms over my face, not even caring that I’m almost definitely smearing my eye makeup everywhere.
She’s quite literally the last person I want to see.