I groaned. “Can we skip the lecture?”
“Sure, but let’s not skip the part where the studio is freaking out. They’re convinced you’re one headline away from becoming the guy who peaked withThe Boyfriend Test.And instead of fixing it, you’re hiding out in Louisiana like you’re auditioning forSwamp People.”
“I’m not hiding,” I argued weakly. “I’m… regrouping.”
Bob snorted. “Sure, if that helps you sleep at night. Meanwhile, Gerald Fargo, the director of this movie—the one that could save your reputation—wants to meet you. In LA. Face-to-face. You know, like normal humans do.” Bob guffawed. “Let’s be real: They want to see if you can still look them in the eye without punching someone.”
I stared out at the pool, where Anna had just stepped out of the water, the sunlight catching her in a way that made the rest of the world seem irrelevant. Just then, I made up my mind. “I’ll make them an audition tape. I’m not flying back to LA right now.”
Bob bristled through the line. “What? Did you just refuse to fly to LA? We must have a bad connection.”
I shrugged. “Can’t you just tell them I’m focusing on the character?”
“You mean the character who’s all about redemption and overcoming his demons? Oh yeah, hiding in Louisiana screams growth.” Bob sighed loudly. “Luke, listen to me: you need this role. It’s gritty, it’s emotional, and it’s the kind of thing the Academy loves. But they’re not going to hand it to you on a silver platter. You need to prove you can deliver.”
“I’ll do the meeting with Gerald Fargo over Zoom.”
Bob exploded. “Zoom? Oh sure, let’s lean into this ‘hermit in the bayou’ aesthetic you’ve got going on. Maybe you can wear a swamp hat for effect.”
“Bob—”
“No, no, you’re right,” he interrupted. “Why bother showing up at all? Let’s send them a cardboard cutout of you holding a sign that says, ‘Please trust me, I won’t hit anyone this time.’ That’ll go over great.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Just set up the Zoom, Bob.”
“Fine,” he huffed. “But you’d better be charming. I’m talking peak Luke Fisher, the guy who could sell sunscreen in a rainstorm. Got it?”
“Got it,” I muttered, hanging up before he could launch into another tirade.
I glanced through the window at Anna, who was now lounging by the pool with her nose buried in a book. Bob was right about one thing: I needed to figure out how to get this role.
But looking at Anna, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was figuring out something else, too. Something scarier than auditions and eccentric directors.
Something real.
I couldn’t ignore the gnawing doubt in the back of my mind. Yesterday, in the car, I’d blown her off. Why? To avoid letting her see the mess underneath my carefully polished exterior? To keep her from realizing I wasn’t as invincible as she thought?
Had I ruined something real before it even had the chance to begin?
I had to fix it.
21
ANNA
When I openedmy door to head to work the evening afterthe kiss,my foot caught on something, and I nearly face-planted. A brown paper bag sat neatly on the mat. Picking it up, I spotted a handwritten card tucked inside.
Anna,
You have this incredible way of seeing the world. I hope this book makes you smile the way you make me smile.
Luke
Curiosity piqued, I carefully opened the bag, peeling back the tissue paper. It was a signed first edition of William Faulkner’sAs I Lay Dying.
“Oh, wow,” I whispered, running my fingers over the worn leather cover, reverence taking over. This wasn’t just thoughtful. It was extravagant. A gift so wildly unnecessary it made my head spin.
Why would Luke send me something like this? Especially after practically shutting me down the day before? My brain was a kaleidoscope of confusion.
