Page 86 of The Fake Script
“Anytime. Plus, I’ve always preferred New York over LA.” He winks.
A laugh bursts out of me. “And here I thought your sole agenda was my well-being and protection.”
“Actors,” he says, shaking his head. “So full of themselves.”
I laugh harder.
“You dorealize you still have to tell your mom, right?” he says, killing my joy.
“Um. Right.” I scratch my head as we start walking to the exit. “Better rip the band-aid off now.”
Once we’re in the car, on our way back to Emma, I call my mom. She answers on the first ring.
“Honey! How are you? Ready to take off?”
“Well.” I clear my throat, ignoring Cillian’s teasing glances. “There’s been a change of plans.”
“What do you mean?” I can hear her frowning through the phone.
“I’m not going to accept the role,” I blurt in a single breath, looking out the window. And as I say those words, that same feeling of relief washes over me.
“What are you talking about? It’s everything you’ve ever wanted.”
“It was. Thank you for getting it for me, Mom. But over these past few months, I’ve changed. Doing this movie here. Dating Emma. Reconnecting with her. It put things into perspective for me. I won’t leave her behind again. I’m staying in New York.”
“You are,” she says in a subdued tone that catches me off guard. I was expecting a lot more drama, given the bomb I just dropped on her—over the phone, no less.
“You don’t seem surprised.”
A small chuckle carries over the receiver. “Honey, I see the way you look at Emma, how you act around her. You love that girl. You always have. Don’t think I forgot that you almost turned down your first role for her.”
“I can’t leave, Mom. Not again.”
“I know,” she responds in a very motherly tone. “So, what will you do? Theatre, I’m guessing? You’ve always had a thing for plays.”
One corner of my mouth twitches into a half smile. “Yeah, that’s the plan.”
“You’ll be amazing, honey. At whatever you do.”
My chest warms with gratitude for my mom. In the end, she’s more than just my manager. She’s always been my biggest fan. “Thanks, Mom.”
“But I think you should work with Elaine Carlstadt. She has theatre experience, and you two would get along fabulously.”
My smile falls. “Mom, I’m not firing you. Just because I’m pivoting toward theatre doesn’t mean—”
“It’s a different world, honey,” she cuts in. “Elaine is the right person to help you navigate it.”
“But you’re amazing at everything you do too, Mom. I have no doubt you could figure this out.”
“Maybe,” she says, pausing.“But you know me. I love the glamorous LA life. And the sun,” she chuckles. “Jokes aside, movies and Hollywood are my scene. Actually, I’ve been thinking lately of taking on another client. I’d love to turn someone else into a star.”
I chuckle. That’s definitely Mom’s vibe, and she obviously has a talent for it. “I can totally see that.”
“Well, then it’s settled. I’ll call Elaine now and swing by New York sometime soon. Just think how nice it’ll be to hang out without talking business,” she says, amusement lacing her tone. But I know she means it. Because as much as I’ve loved having her as a manager, I can’t wait to spend quality time with my mom.
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Always