“What?” Simon asked. “Does who—”
“Oh my god, it’s a surprise,” Vanessa said. “You’re surprising her. That is so damn romantic.”
“Um,” Iris said again, brilliantly. “I’m sorry, who—”
“Hang on, hang on, let me get Adri,” Vanessa said, then flung open the theater doors, holding one open with her butt.
“Babe!” she called down the aisle. “You’ll never guess who’s here!”
“Who?” a deeper voice called back, sultry and husky even with that one syllable.
“Iris!”
A beat of silence. Iris tightened her arm around Simon’s, ready to make a run for it. He gave her aWhat the fucklook, which she readily returned.
Footsteps bounded up the aisle, and then a pretty woman appeared, deep green wavy hair cut to her chin and framing her heart-shaped face.
“Oh my god, it is you,” she said, frowning. “She didn’t tell us you were coming.”
“I don’t...” Iris shook her head. “What? We’re here to audition for the company. That’s it.”
“Wonderful,” Adri said, eyes flitting up and down Iris’s body in a way that made Iris feel the need to check and make sure nothing was on her face or clothes. “You act?”
“Baby,” Vanessa said before Iris could answer, grabbing onto Adri’s arm. “Beatrice. You haven’t found her yet, right?”
The two women looked at each other, Adri’s mouth open in a thoughtful circle.
“Wouldn’t that be perfect?” Vanessa asked.
“Oh, Van, I don’t know,” Adri said.
“Why not? We already know they have chemistry. And she’d be so happy,” Vanessa said, her voice taking on a more tender tone.
“She’d be surprised,” Adri said. “She doesn’t always love surprises.”
“She likes good surprises.”
“Well, who the hell likes bad surprises?”
“No one, I guess,” Vanessa said. “I’m just saying, I think she’d like this.”
“Excuse me,” Iris said, ready to get off this Willy Wonka roller coaster. “But what the hell is happening?”
Adri and Vanessa laughed.
“Sorry,” Vanessa said. “We were just wondering if you’d like to read for Beatrice.”
“Van,” Adri said, folding her arms.
“What does it hurt to try?” Vanessa said.
“Beatrice?” Simon said. “As in... the lead?”
“Whoa, what?” Iris asked. She was vaguely familiar withMuch Ado About Nothing.She’d read it in high school, seen the movie with Emma Thompson, but she couldn’t really remember anyone’s names.
“We have our Benedick,” Adri said, eyes narrowing on Iris, “as I’m sure you know. We’re still looking to fill the co-lead.”
“You might be a great fit!” Vanessa said.
