“No. I haven’t had enough of you. I’m not sure that’s possible, even if you are a fucking, crazy bastard. I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you too, but you were right, we need to find some middle ground where your work is concerned, but not over the phone.”
“Yeah, not over the phone. Where are you?”
“In the office. Amanda said you’d called.”
“I also told Sandra I would phone the office. That was the first time I called your house, before my public performance on speaker. I take it you were there, and I didn’t make a complete fool of myself.”
“Yeah, I was there, honey. I thought you were very clear and concise. Bobby thought you were very eloquent and reckons I should definitely marry you, even if you’ve quit.”
“Your brother was there?” Embarrassment seeped in now.
“Oh yeah. We played a round of golf first thing and came back for breakfast when you called. Sorry for not taking your first call.”
“He heard me spilling my guts? Sorry,” she repeated.
“Stop apologising, Tasha. He agreed that I was juvenile.” His voice was supportive and reassuring. “I really did act stupidly and was thoughtless. Of course, thoughts of the last few days, if not your whole life, are plaguing you, why wouldn’t they be? Go to your audition tomorrow. You need to work.”
“Yes I do, but are you sure?” She was desperate for him to mean it, not to simply be paying some kind of lip service.
“Yeah and we will deal with the outcome later.”
“Thank you.” Tasha suddenly felt as though she was going to cry again.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked with genuine concern that he had caused her the emotional hurt she was still demonstrating.
“Yes, sorry. I think it might be the cheap wine going to my head.”
“Maybe. What time is it?”
“Half past ten.”
“Maybe you should go to sleep and text me in the morning. Oh, and I don’t want a cheque from you or your credit card back, just sign it, please. And for the record, I will never accept your resignation as my lucky seven.”
“I’ll sign it in the morning. Night night. I love you, and I don’t want you to find a new lucky seven, that was anger speaking,” she repeated, having already told him that on speaker.
“I’m not sure I deserve your love after today, but I love you too and there could never be any other lucky seven for me.”
“Then I mustn’t deserve your love with my ability to break all the promises and agreements I make.”
“Shall we call it quits for now then?”
“Definitely. I am going to sleep before I watch the rest ofMy Girland cry like a big girl.”
“My Girl? You were that sure it was over?” he asked sadly.
“Yeah. I’d already doneDirty Dancingand it wasGhostnext,” she laughed.
“Just so you know, if it had been over, I would have told you, but I want to hang onto you not lose you. Now, go to sleep.”
She hung up and smiled then, possibly courtesy of the alcohol, she fell asleep immediately.
Chapter 34
After enjoying a restful and full night’s sleep, Tasha arrived for her audition about half an hour early. She was reading for the part of a junior defence barrister in some new legal drama that traced criminal prosecutions from the offence to the trial. Apparently there would be a mix of serious crimes and the ludicrous side of the British legal system too. She was halfway through the short walk to the studio when her phone beeped.
