She crosses her arms over her chest. "So then why do they want me?"
"Didn't you audition? Aren't you doing a show with us later this summer?"
"Well, yeah."
"Then they must have liked what they saw. The truth is Jasmine injured herself last night, so she can't do the part. There wasn't a long discussion before they contacted you. You must have stood out in their minds."
I have no idea what the conversation was behind closed office doors, but she doesn't need to know that. She just needs to feel that we want her.
Feeling wanted is more important than feeling needed.
Leslie doesn't say anything for a minute or two, and then I hear her humming softly. She's studying the music on her phone.
Good.
This way, I don't have to talk to her anymore.
My phone, connected to Grayson's car for the GPS, begins to ring. Mei's name pops up on the display. This should be interesting.
"Hey, babe. What's up?"
"Um, any chance you can come home this weekend? I got an offer for a gig out in the Hamptons. They'll put us up for the entire weekend, in addition to paying us our usual rates for Friday and Saturday nights."
Oh man, that would be a welcome influx of cash right about now.
"Mei, you know I can't. We openKiss Me, Kateon Friday."
I can practically hear her indifferent shrug through the phone. We may share music, but her love is jazz, while mine is musical theater. She's hoping for a recording contract; I'm hoping for a show on Broadway. So close, yet so far away.
"Ugh. It's just that I haven't seen you in months."
I want to remind Mei that I've asked her several times to come up and see me, but she's always found a reason not to. On the other hand, I don't want to get into that in front of Leslie.
"I know. I miss you too." Okay, that might have been for Leslie's benefit. Truth be told, Mei hasn't even been on my mind that much. I'm sure that's a point that should be examined, but I've neither the time nor the energy to unpack that right now.
And definitely not in front of Leslie.
"But I think you should take the gig. See if Mark and D'von can go. I'm sure one of them knows another piano player."
"It is really good money. Plus, they're putting us up in fancy digs. I could use a little vacation out of the city."
I look at the countryside whirring by. It's definitely outside the city. "I know what you mean. But have a good time this weekend and let me know when you're coming up."
After I disconnect the call, I say the stupidest, most obvious thing ever. "That was my girlfriend."
I've never called Mei my girlfriend before. Mostly because she isn't. We're in some sort of loose, undefined physical relationship. We're not sleeping with anyone else, but it's not like there's this huge emotional piece for us.
Let's face it, I've done the all-in emotional piece before, and it did not work out well. I glance at Leslie again, who appears to be absorbed with her phone.
All that for her benefit, and she probably didn't even notice.
Good God, it's like I'm that desperate sixteen-year-old dork again.
That desperate sixteen-year-old dork who had his heart ripped out and decimated by the woman in the passenger's seat.
And just like that, I've never been in a worse mood.
Chapter 5: Leslie
