"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want you to. I—" I break off before I spill that I've been grumping about for days because of her. I'm not the type of bloke who moons about after a sheila he's only just met. Hell, I don't even moon about the ones I've known for a long time.
I don't do that. Just like I don't do relationships.
Yet here I am, grinning like a fool, unwilling to let go of her hand. I lead her up the stairs and back into the audition room. And now it's my turn to ask for reassurance. "Are you sure about this? About me?"
Tabitha leans in and kisses me, her lips a hint of so much more to come. "We've got tonight, babe."
I return her kiss. "Why don't you stay?"
She pulls back and grins. "Just try to get rid of me now. I'm yours until the moment I get on that plane."
"Promise?"
I take her hand in mine. Nothing has ever felt so right. I'm breaking my own cardinal rule here: don't get involved. But it's too late. This Sassy Cat has her claws in me.
And there's no place I'd rather be.
Chapter 17: Tabitha
I've never been known for my focus or attention to detail. This lands me squarely in hell right now. I mean, how am I supposed to concentrate on one singer after another after another—and another—with Henderson right here next to me?
I can't screw this up for him though.
I pull my hair out of its messy top knot and run my fingers through it, combing it out. Playing with my hair always helps me focus.
Okay, this guy singing sounds pretty good. I glance over at Henderson's notebook. I shouldn't be surprised that his handwriting is small and neat. He's not writing a lot down either. My paper is filled with my big, loopy scrawl. Phrases like "good tone," "pitchy," and "best friend material" march across my sheet. I'm not sure I'll even be able to make sense of what I meant later on.
I never was a good note taker in school.
There wasn't much Iwasgood at back then, other than getting attention from others. That's another reason why the past few years, flying under the radar, have been challenging. I don't know how to function without calling attention to myself. I'm really only good at two things, and singing is theotherone.
Yet here I am, in another situation where it's not about me. I'm here for Henderson. Quite literally, but to help him as well. I scribble some more indecipherable notes.
"Wow, you took this very seriously." Henderson nods at my stack of papers. The last actor has finally finished. I'm ready to crawl into bed.
In more ways than one.
"This is serious business. I didn't want to earn a reputation for distracting you today." I lean in and whisper in his ear, "Because I plan on doing that for the rest of my week here."
With my face so close to his, I can feel his cheek pull up into a smile. I'm glad we're finally on the same page.
"Okay, guys, we're in the home stretch. Now all we have to do is compare notes, argue for a while, have a cage match to the death, and we're good to go for callbacks ... when we get to go at it again. Let's start with perspectives for male leads. H—who do you like?" Grayson looks at Henderson expectantly.
I giggle at the thought of those two having a cage match to the death. I picture more of a dance duel.
Henderson turns and whispers to me, "Like I can actually answer Gray's question. Like I could focus with you and that hair. Why do you smell like vanilla? It's making me hungry."
The look in his eyes does not indicate a gastric hunger. I feel that look throughout my body. I'm hungry too.
I didn't mean to distract him by playing with my hair. But maybe, like me, just mere presence alone is enough to prevent his focus.
Without breaking his gaze with me, Henderson answers, "Uh … I don't know. Who do you like, Gray? We can go with that."
Oh, good. He's going to wrap this up quickly so we can move on to bigger—and better—things.
"How about Number 36? Tony Garcia. I like him for Gomez Addams."
Henderson's head whips around to face Grayson. Damn it. I've lost him. "Are you kidding? Too skinny. Not the right presence. And if he can't bring it with his singing, I doubt he'll have it with dancing."
