“Yes. You’re going to review her contract how you do with all of mine and make sure it’s good.”
“Iam? I take it, by your use of the wordvolunteer, you expect me to do this for free?”
“I’llpay you,” she said softly. “Just take care of it, okay? Make sure she’s getting a good deal. It’s her first paying gig. I don’t want anyone taking advantage of her.”
“Why exactly are you helping a newbie breakout?”
“She’s good,” Samara said. “Like, really good, and more potential.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes,” she said. “And she needs it done ASAP. I’ll get you the paperwork. Prioritize it, don’t mention payment to her, and sendmewhatever the bill is, okay?”
“Okay. No problem,” he replied.
“Thank you,” Samara said and hung up.
“Top shelf, Lainey. I don’t want that well shit tonight, okay?” Dana said, causing Samara to laugh again.
CHAPTER 12
“You got the part!”
Dana walked into her older sister’s arms and hugged her tightly. Lainey had always been there for her. Even when they had been younger and hated each other during their teen years because Dana had been a drama queen about everything and Lainey had always been so low-maintenance, her sister had been to every one of her plays and musicals, and when Lainey had gone to college to play soccer, she’d always tried to be there for Dana if she hadn’t had a practice or a game she’d miss. It was only now that Dana was older that she realized just how much her big sister had been there for her, probably giving up going to parties or having fun with her friends just to watch Dana in some local production, applauding the loudest when Dana took her bow at the end.
“I did,” she replied and let go of Lainey, who still tried to hold her in the hug.
“Babe, I think your sister needs to breathe,” Paige said from just behind Lainey.
“Oh, yeah. Sorry, I’m just a proud big sis here,” Lainey replied, letting her go. “I can’t believe it. Caterer one day and star the next.”
“Not a star. I’m just in a movie.”
“In a movie with Samara Barber,” Paige pointed out and motioned for them to sit in the booth she and Lainey had been sitting in prior to Dana’s arrival. “She’s a big deal, Dana.”
“I know,” she replied. “And she’s helping me with the agent stuff, too.”
“Agent stuff?” Lainey asked, wrapping her arm around Paige’s shoulders once they’d all settled in the booth.
“Yeah, she’s letting me borrow her agent for the paperwork. He’s doing it for free as a favor to her and is going to get it back to me tomorrow to sign if it’s all okay.”
“Really? I heard she was such a diva,” Paige said. “She’s being nice?”
“She has… diva tendencies, but she’s been good about this whole me being in the movie thing. It’s weird, right? She’s hoping to get some kind of credit for playing gay and maybe get an award or two for it, and she’s been pushing for me to get the role.”
“Why is that weird, if she thinks you’re a good actress?” Lainey said.
“I know. I just… I have no real experience in front of a camera, and they saw so many others who did.”
“Hey.”
Dana looked up to see Maisie and India standing there, holding hands.
“Hey,” she said.
“I invited them to celebrate with us. Hope that’s okay,” Lainey said.
“Of course, it’s okay.”
