Megan turns toward Jeremy in the booth. “Maybe you’ll get Orsino, and the two of you will be scene partners again.”
“I’d like that,” he says softly, his eyes connecting with mine, and I offer a polite smile. “So this is kind of embarrassing, I was actually wondering if any of you had a meal credit left I could snag? Turns out this hungry boy went through all his for the month already.”
“You can use one of mine,” Megan says, holding her card between two fingers. “But will you be a doll and grab me another coffee while you’re up? Today is a two-cupper.”
“Absolutely. I really appreciate it,” he says as he gets up and heads to the line for food.
I watch him as he loads up his tray. He seems genuine, and he was patient with me when we were scene partners last year. But his attention doesn’t excite me like Daddy Dom’s does. His touch doesn’t make me feel like I’m simultaneously an inferno and a cold glass of water on a summer’s day. I’m not sure if I’ll ever find someone else who makes me feel like that again.
CHAPTER 24
EMMA
When the cast list goes out, I’m equally thrilled and apprehensive to find out I’m playing Viola. Professor A-hole was one of the lowest parts of my sophomore year. Despite his handsome features, his attention felt overwhelming, and I wanted nothing more than to shrink from his spotlight. And now I’ve found myself with a lead in a play where most of my free time will be spent in the spotlight. I’m sure he’ll have lots of notes on how I could improve my performance. I just hope I don’t have another breakdown like I did in his acting class.
But there’s more than just Professor A-hole that’s giving me anxiety about this show. As the female lead, I will inevitably have to touch the male lead at some point on stage. I just hope everyone is understanding about my unique issue. I feel fine sharing it with Mackenzie, but the thought of Professor A-hole finding out about it has my stomach in knots.
The first rehearsal is always exciting, and I pull out my script, lining up all of my highlighters and pencils on the table, ready for the table read. It turns out Jeremy was indeed cast as Orsino. He takes a seat next to me, and I awkwardly smile when he nods at me. He was able to hold my hand in ourscene last year, but it took time to build up to that, so the thought of kissing him on stage has my stomach in knots.
We make it through the first three acts without issue. Mackenzie stops us occasionally to share her ideas for the directorial vision and how she wants to make the production unique. Every so often I feel eyes on me, but when I look around the table, everyone’s engrossed in their scripts, so I brush it off.
“This is the part where we kiss,” Jeremy says near the end of act five. He’s closer to my ear than I’m comfortable and I flinch, turning to look at him in confusion.
A throat clears across the table, and I lock eyes with Professor A-hole. For a second it almost looks like he’s jealous, but I must be mistaken. I shake my head, clearing that thought as I look down at my script and read my line.
After rehearsal is over, I’m packing up my bag when Jeremy approaches.
“Hey, I’m headed over to the student apartments. You’re over there too, right? Wanna walk together?”
“Um, sure.” I look up at him, noticing his warm smile. He’s pushing his floppy blond hair out of his face, and he’s actually kind of cute in a boyish kind of way.
“I don’t know about your place over there, but mine is a cinderblock shithole. But what can you do?” He shrugs as we pull on all our winter gear. “It was the cheapest option on campus.”
Once we’re bundled up and headed toward the door, a voice calls from behind me.
“Miss Black, can I speak with you?” I turn around and am met with the biggest scowl on an otherwise handsome face. What did I do now?
He has no power over me anymore since this isn’t for a grade. The worst he could do is get me kicked out of the play, but I decide that wouldn’t be the end of the world. I cross myarms over my chest and glare at him. “Yes, Professor?” I retort with a bit of a bite.
I can feel Jeremy hovering behind me, and I take a step closer to him. Professor A-hole just stares at me, looking between Jeremy and me. Again, it almost feels like jealousy, or concern, but I grow annoyed the longer he stares at us without speaking.
“Did you need something, Professor?”
He looks flustered, and I almost feel sorry for him as he opens his mouth to speak several times before saying, “Be careful out there, the snow is really coming down.”
Now it’s my turn to stare at him dumbfounded because it almost sounded like concern, and if I know anything, it’s that this man doesn’t give two thoughts about me.
“Don’t worry, Professor Ali, I’ll make sure she gets home safe,” Jeremy says, throwing an arm around my waist. I flinch at the movement, dropping my bag, and break into a fit of laughter to cover up my blunder.
“Sorry, I’m just really ticklish,” I say, breathless. It looks like Professor Ali wants to say something else, and I quickly turn and head for the door. I do not need him to know what’s really going on with me. And I certainly don’t need his pity.
Jeremy and I walk over to student apartments, and I’m careful to keep enough room for the Holy Ghost between us. While I appreciate his kind gesture, I don’t want him getting the wrong idea. There’s only one man I’m interested in, and it’s not him. He excitedly talks about the upcoming production, and I smile and nod along.
Once I’m inside my apartment, I set down my bag in my room and pull out my phone and notice I have a text from Daddy Dom.
Are you home?
Yes, just walked in from rehearsal. You?
