“Yeah, as of about three days ago,” Jill said with a smile and showed off her ring.
“Uh… I’m a teacher, so I couldn’t afford a big diamond,” Willa said.
“As if I needed a big diamond,” Jill noted.
“It’s beautiful,” Samara replied, looking down at it.
“I’m sure you’ve seen the biggest diamond in–”
“It’s beautiful,” Samara repeated, interrupting Willa. “I have never been a fan of the giant rings that I can barely lift my hand when I wear them. I have to for events sometimes, but I think the ring should be what the wearer wants, especially if she’s wearing it for the rest of her life.”
“I agree,” Jill replied. “Now, I have to get her one. I was going to ask her to marry me before she beat me to it, so I had one picked out. I saw it in the store, loved it, and went back to pick it up after I finished a tour. Oh, I’m a tour guide, and I also manage the place. Anyway, I went back to get it, but it was gone. I asked if they had another one, but they didn’t, so I’m back on the hunt for one.” She looked at Willa. “We’re going to find it together now.”
Willa smiled at her and said, “I don’t even need a ring. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, right. Like I’m not getting you a ring to symbolize my eternal love.”
Dana took a drink of her way-too-hot coffee at the same time Samara leaned into her a little, and it nearly made her choke because the next thing Samara did was place her handon Dana’s thigh. Dana looked down but didn’t move because she didn’t want Samara to pull that hand away.
“So, do you like New Orleans?” Willa asked Samara.
“I do. It’s a very… welcoming city.”
Dana cleared her throat and ate a beignet.
“And how long are you here?” Willa asked.
“We break for the holiday, but then, we’re back. In total, it’s about two months.”
“Then, back to LA?”
“Vancouver,” Samara said. “I have a short break, but I film there next.”
“You do?” Dana asked.
“Yeah, I signed everything yesterday,” Samara replied. “It’s two months there on location and back to LA for some stage stuff.”
“What’s the movie?” Jill asked.
“Untitled right now, but it’s an action thing. Big explosions and car chases. I play a scientist who falls for the cop. Standard stuff. I would’ve said no, honestly, but I signed a three-picture deal with the studio five years ago. This is my last movie with them, and then, I’m, thankfully, done.”
“With action movies?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I guess if a good script or character actually comes my way, I’ll do one, but I’m looking forward to doing more indie stuff like this movie or just something with real meat on the bone, you know? I want to really challenge myself to be the best actor I can be, not just keep taking the big-budget stuff.”
“Dana?”
“Yeah?” she said, looking up at Jill.
“What about you?”
“Whataboutme?”
“What’s next for you?”
“Oh, back to catering.”
“Really? Why? This is a big deal, right?”
