“I hear you,” I said, though my chest tightened even more. “I’ll figure it out.”
“You’d better,” Bob quipped. “And hey, if it’s any consolation, Fargo thinks you’re a genius. So, there’s that.”
I forced a laugh. “Yeah, thanks for the pep talk, Bob.”
“Anytime, Romeo.”
I shoved the phone back into my pocket just as Anna walked into the kitchen. “What was that about?” she asked, tilting her head.
I hesitated, then forced a grin. “Just Bob. Trying to find me something else to audition for. You know how he is.”
Her brow furrowed slightly, concern flickering in her eyes. “What about the audition with Gerald Fargo? Did Bob say if it went okay?”
I hesitated, the truth sitting heavily on my tongue. “Not yet,” I lied, forcing a grin. “Bob’s just... Bob. Always trying to find the next thing for me to chase.”
She studied me for a moment, her expression unreadable, before nodding. “Okay,” she said softly. “But are you sure you’re alright? You seem... I don’t know, off.”
My chest tightened, and before she could press further, I pulled her into a kiss. Her hands slid to the back of my neck. The kiss was sweet, warm, and everything I needed. But as it ended, the heaviness in my chest didn’t lift.
I brushed a strand of hair from her face and tried to smile. “I’m fine.” The words felt thin, hollow.
As she turned back toward the window, humming, I stood frozen, watching her. My heart raced for all the wrong reasons.She deserves better than this,I thought, the doubt gnawing at the edges of my mind.She deserves the truth.
The words from Bob and the text replayed in my head. One week. How could I leave now? The thought of living away from her felt impossible.
I wouldn’t be able to keep the truth from her for much longer. And as I stood there, staring at her, the realization hit me like a gut punch:I might have landed the role of a lifetime, but what if I lost Anna in the process?
41
ANNA
Sometimes,when everything feels too good to be true, you start looking for the cracks. Even when they’re not there.
Luke had been acting weird last night after he got the text from Bob, and that morning, he seemed distracted and quieter than usual, as if something was weighing on him. I’d caught him scrolling through his phone in the kitchen last night. Usually, he’d crack a joke about my coffee-making skills or launch into some absurd Hollywood anecdote, but today? Nothing.
I tried to focus on my routine, but my stomach tightened with every passing minute.This is it,I thought, the familiar doubt creeping in.He’s pulling away. I knew it was too good to last.
I wandered into the living room, my coffee mug warm in my hands. Luke was leaning against the counter, his eyes fixed on his phone. He glanced up, and for a second, his expression was unreadable. Then he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
My heart sank, bracing for the worst. “Okay,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
He hesitated, then held up his phone, his lips curving into a cautious smile. “I got the part.”
Relief flooded through me. “Luke, that’s amazing!” I set my mug down and threw my arms around him, practically bouncing with excitement. “You got it! You actually got it! This is incredible!”
He hugged me back, but his grip didn’t feel as tight as I expected. When I pulled away to look at him, ready to see that brilliant smile of his, his expression faltered. His eyes flicked to the side as if avoiding mine.
“Wait.” My excitement dimmed slightly. “What’s wrong? This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“Filming starts in LA soon.” There was sadness in his eyes. “I’ll have to leave in a week.”
And there it was. The other shoe dropping. I nodded, doing my best to keep my expression positive. “Oh. In a week.” The words felt like they were scraping against my throat.
Luke stepped closer, grabbing both of my hands in his. “Anna, come with me. Bring your laptop, write, and explore. It’ll be fun.”
His blue eyes met mine, steady and sure, but also nervous.
My heart thudded hard. He was offering everything: partnership, adventure, love. The life I used to imagine but never thought I could have.
