“Again, thank you.” We stood there for a few awkward moments of silence, so I cut through the tension. “And you are?”
“Sorry,” the man said with a sheepish quality that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. “I’m Eugenius Moses, but everyone calls me Eugene or just Gene.”
“Well, Eugene, how can I help you?”
“We’d like to invite you for a callback tomorrow afternoon.”
“What time?” I asked.
“2:00 p.m.?”
“I’ll have to double-check my schedule, but that should work for me.” As if I had a schedule, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Amazing,” he said. His cheeks flushed red, which only made him seem more boyish.
“What’s your role in the show?”
“I’m the composer. Mabel Wägner is writing the book and Tyreek MacQueen is the lyricist. We were hired after a contest to work on the show for the producer.”
“Well, congratulations. Welcome to the big leagues. I can’t wait to hear what the three of you come up with.” I have always loved working with new talent. There’s something about a new team of writers that helps bring out my level of interest and excitement in a project.
“And I have to say, I saw you on the opening night ofThe Faith Healer. I was horrified when I heard what happened to you.“ I stiffened a bit, but thankfully the kid didn’t seem to notice the change in my posture. “And I don’t believe anything Asher says. What he did to you sickened me. Asher was always a jerk, but that was a new low for him.”
“Ahh…Asher…I take it you dated him, too?”
“Oh, no…I’m not…I didn’t. No. Oh geez, no. He was my roommate in college. I never dated him. I’m not gay. There’s nothing wrong with being gay, but I’m completely straight.”
Great, my straightdar is way off today. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insinuate that you and Asher had a fling. It’s just, well, you know…”
“Trust me, I know all too well. And I think most people in the industry know, too. Despite what you may hear on social media, most people have taken your side. I wanted you to know that.”
“Thanks,” I said. “You do not know how much I needed to hear that. Sometimes, I’ve felt like I was yelling against the wind these past few years.”
“Well, I need to get back in there,” Eugene said. “We need to make a few phone calls and let the other people we want to see tomorrow know about the callbacks. Have a great evening.”
“You too.” Eugene walked back to the audition room. For the first time in a few years, I found an extra spring in my step.
Chapter 5
Itwasafterfourwhen I exited back onto 46thStreet. The rain poured down harder than before. I looked left, looked right, and decided it was time for a celebratory mojito. Next door to the Actors’ Equity Building is my favorite Cuban restaurant and the best place to go for mojitos in Manhattan, Havana Central. I walked into the restaurant and sat down at the bar.
The bartenders were already fixing the layers of glasses with the basic mojito fixings at the bar. I waved one over when I caught his eye. He was a medium-built Latino who had short dark hair and chocolate-brown eyes. I almost melted when I stared into his eyes. When he opened his mouth and asked me what I wanted to drink, I almost said something completely inappropriate, but I stopped myself and ordered a classic mojito, a combination of fresh muddled mint, sugar, rum and soda. He poured my drink and went back to prepping for the after 5:00 rush. I swirled the mint around with the fresh piece of sugar cane sticking out of the glass.
I was the only one sitting at the bar, and the music wasn’t loud, so I pulled out my phone and called Brice.
“Brice Stark.”
“Brice, it’s Erika.”
“Ahh, yes. I was waiting for the phone call. I heard about the callback tomorrow. Congrats.”
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Wrapping up some paperwork. Why?”
“I’m at Havana Central. Come join me for a celebratory drink.”
I knew Brice’s office was a block away, so he could be here in minutes if he really wanted to.
