“You have to work hard to get the gigs. She’ll be down in the trenches until she can claw her way up. Cheyenne will have several hurdles to overcome.”
“I say good riddance.” Lottie waved dismissively. “Maybe she’ll go to LA, fall in love with it and move away from here.”
“Thank you for all the help,” Harlow said. “Now I know what Robert is up to.”
“We should be thanking you for an exciting night,” Abby said. “Let us know if you need us for another Mackies’ mission.”
“Ditto,” Meg said. “We know you would do the same for us.”
“Absolutely.”
Peyton downed the rest of her coffee. “I’ve been wondering how much longer you’ll be around before you have to leave for the next movie project.”
“I have until the first of April,” Harlow said. “Although the script should be here today for me to start memorizing my lines.”
“April to start filming?” Noelle asked.
“This particular producer runs his productions a little differently. The top-billing actors are required to travel to thelocation for a meeting where we’ll get our marching orders, details about what he expects. We return a few weeks later, when the set has been completed, and this is when filming starts.”
“It sounds complicated,” Meg said.
“Not necessarily complicated but definitely a lengthy process. Actually, I prefer the pre-filming location meetings. It gives me a feel for the place while I’m practicing my lines. There are a lot of moving parts, so nothing is written in stone and is subject to change.”
Meg leaned over and whispered in her sister’s ear.
“We were wondering…” Abby hesitated.
“Wondering what?” Harlow prompted.
“If we could come visit you on the set,” Meg blurted out.
“Of course.” Harlow’s throat clogged at the thought of the Mackies wanting to spend their precious free time traveling to see her, not even knowing where she might be. This was what real friends were like. Other than Eryn, she’d never been around a group of women who actually enjoyed each other’s company. And yet, those gathered at the table couldn’t care less how far away she might be. They wanted to show up and offer their support. The thought was equally mind-blowing and humbling. “I haven’t told you where I’m going.”
“Unless it’s Siberia, it doesn’t matter,” Peyton joked.
“Hopefully somewhere warm,” Eryn said. “Tropical, with palm trees and sandy white beaches, is what I’m rooting for.”
“Close. Pittsburgh.”
“Pennsylvania?” Her bestie frowned.
“Yeah.” Harlow chuckled. “Doesn’t sound as appealing, does it?”
“You’re the reason for the visit. I don’t care if we travel to Timbuktu,” Noelle declared.
“Ditto,” Meg said. “Visiting a movie set sounds exciting.”
“You’re all welcome to come see me.”
The Mackies finished their meal, and Harlow insisted on paying, her way of thanking them.
During the bicycle ride home, she mulled over what her friends had told her. Robert was lining up his next protégé. Was Cheyenne on the cusp of hitting the Hollywood scene and making a name for herself? The hours were long; the sets filled with backstabbing co-stars, producers, set designers, you name it. The bigger the star, the bigger the target on your back.
Beautiful young starlets were a dime a dozen, arriving in LA every day with their sights set on making it to the big time, but only a handful succeeded.
On the flip side, Robert had connections…all the right connections. He knew the people who could help jumpstart Cheyenne’s career. But being a prima donna with a boatload of attitude would work against her. She would be looked down upon, her reputation smeared and made to feel like the lowest woman on the totem pole.
Despite what little Harlow knew about the woman, it wasn’t Cheyenne’s style to be humble.Shewas the one who looked down on others.
