When we are finally done with the cops, I end up in a hotel in West Hollywood. The place is called The Easton, and apparently it caters to people who don’t want to be found. Secrecy is clearly the name of the game here and the staff just give me knowing smiles, like I am about to have an illicit rendezvous or I just got out of rehab.
I flop down on the wide mattress, too tired to care. It’s a big bed and it isn’t on wheels. Sounds heavenly.
Nix sits down next to me.
“You going to be okay?”
I open one eye to look at her.
“At least I am not on a bus, right?”
She gives me a little twisted lip smile. “I’m sorry this happened. Breaking into your house, stealing your award. I know you need rest, Cas.”
I run a hand over my face. “It doesn’t matter, though. I just need some sleep and then tomorrow we can figure out what’s next.”
“How long before you go back to the house?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I can go back tomorrow, or whenever the window that got broken is fixed and everything is cleaned and security checks out. Doubt it will matter though, the place feels different now.”
“We can start looking for other places?”
I sigh. “All I want right now is to shower and go to bed. Whatever is waiting for us tomorrow can just wait. I don’t know what I want to do.”
I get that shower and the sleep. It doesn’t make anything any clearer.
Nix comes bounding into the suite way too early, reporting that there were no problems with her and Caleb staying out at their apartment over the garage last night, and answers the door to wheel in a killer room service breakfast, all before I even get fully out of bed.
Caleb joins us, and the food is good, almost making me feel human again.
“You okay?” Nix asks. I can see her eyeing her tablet, her fingers itching to get started on the day, but not so much that she can’t remain in friend mode a bit longer.
“This is good. Thank you.”
“But?”
I place the wrapper of the muffin I had back on the cart. “But, I was hoping to be done with room service for a while.”
“I know.” Nix squeezes my knee. I lean back on the couch, closing my eyes and letting the tea in my hands warm them up. No set list awaits me. No pre-show anything.
I just lean back and close my eyes when I hear a choked sound from my PA.
“Nix?” That’s Caleb, assessing her for any danger before I get my eyes fully focused on her.
A huge smile crosses her face. “Well, this may make up for last night. Vernon wants a call this morning, says it is urgent.”
I sit up. My agent wanting a call has nothing to do with my safety, and everything to do with the role I want to land.
“Hello, Vernon.” I put the call on speaker.
“Caswell Vaughn. Well, well. Got some news today on the River Phoenix biopic. They loved you and want to make you an offer.”Vernon never bullshits, never takes up time with idle chit chat. He’s brutal in getting to the point.
I see Caleb duck in close enough to listen in. He gives me a warm smile.
“What’s the deal?”
“Lead role—you play adult River. The rights are secure. The production and money has the green light. Apparently this project has been around a while, waiting on a lead. They just want you with their acting coach, if you agree to the money and royalty split.”
“What about my equity rider?” Everyone knows I’m gay. That isn’t news. Rarely do I even get pushback on my equity rider in the music industry, so I made them include one if a part was offered to me for this film. It means a certain amount of diversity in casting and staffing is required by the studio. I don’t like to get caught up in causes, thank my parents for that, but I do intend to do good where I can. And if I can create a diverse cast and production staff with a simple contract provision, then I’m doing it. It makes my product better and it’s the right thing to do.
