1992
“Goddamnit!” I paced around my bedroom after hanging up on Agatha.“Fuck!”
That role should have been mine. For the first time in my life, I had real connections going into an audition. The same executive producer I had worked with onHigh Lifewas involved in this new production, and he claimed the role was as good as mine.
What the hell happened?
I slumped onto my bed. This week, I officially went broke, making me regret not listening to Agatha about getting a temporary second job. I was now willing to clean toilets to pay rent.
My phone rang, and I wasn’t surprised to hear Eliot’s voice as he said, “I’m sorry.”
“Good news travels fast.”
“It should have been you.”
“Story of my life. Do you know why I didn’t get it?”
“The director knew someone from previous productions, and he preferred to work with him.”
Figures. Even when I had connections, there had to be someone with better ones.
“I don’t know what to do. I’m scared.” I rubbed my itching eyes, too upset to care how pathetic I sounded. A part of me was angry at Eliot, and angry at myself for being angry at him. But if he hadn’t believed in me full-heartedly, he would have seen the logic in me finding a second job, though one must have a first job to get a second.
“Let’s meet,” he said.
I’d hoped he’d say that. In the last two months, he had become my rock. We saw each other at least twice a week and constantly spoke on the phone. What happened in the strip club hadn’t happened again, and we hadn’t talked about it after that night.
“Where do you want to meet?” I asked.
“You will come to my house for dinner. We have something to discuss, and if all goes well, you’ll spend the night here.”
It took me a few moments to digest his words. I’d never been invited to his house. “Are you serious?”
“Do you know me as a jester, Jonah Carter?”
I smiled like I hadn’t been fighting tears a minute ago. “No, sir.”
“Then you have your answer. Come hungry, please. I’ll send a taxi to get you.”
“I have my car.”
“Save some money on gas. Be ready at seven, okay?”
“Okay. Should I bring anything?”
“Just your charming self and a teddy bear if you sleep with one.”
“Oh, please. I gave up on Captain Bear weeks ago. See you soon.”
*
I got out of the taxi and stared at the huge house in front of me. I’d never been to Echo Park before, and Eliot’s house was one of the more impressive ones on the street with its Victorian style, tall windows, and dark roof tiles.
I pressed the button next to the gate. He buzzed me inside and opened the front door as I approached.
“You look normal!” I called.
He arched an eyebrow. “Meaning?”
