“What was that for?” she whispered when they’d come up for air.
“Because I missed you,” Jules said. “And because I wanted to remind you thatyouare the only person I wanted to be kissing on stage today.”
“It’s just a stage kiss,” Sophie murmured, her earlier jealousy leaking away. “We’ll all have to do it sooner or later, right?”
“If we’re lucky,” Jules said. “Because it means we’re getting the juicy roles, right?”
“Right.”
“Okay, now I’m ready to head out,” Jules said, wrapping up in her coat and grabbing her bag. “I’ve got dinner with my agent tonight, but let’s get together later this week, even if it’s just for a drink.”
“I’d like that,” Sophie said.
“Me too.” Jules gave her hand a squeeze as they left her dressing room.
Tabitha, who was halfway down the hall on her way toward the back door, raised her eyebrows slightly as she took in their joined hands. “Night, ladies.”
“Night,” Jules said quietly, dropping Sophie’s hand.
They followed her out, turning left toward their respective apartments while Tabitha turned right, headed for the subway. Jules chewed her lip, noticeably silent.
“Tabitha’s cool,” Sophie said. “She won’t say anything.”
Jules shrugged. “It’s fine.” But she didn’t sound fine.
“She likes Amir,” Sophie told her with a conspiratorial smile.
“I noticed that too.”
“You did?” Sophie hadn’t had a clue until Tabitha told her.
“The way she talks about him?” Jules said. “Not to mention the way she looks at him. Girl, please.”
Sophie laughed. “Half the cast will be hooking up before we’re finished here.”
“I checked our contracts,” Jules told her, serious again. “There are a few lines about proper conduct, but nothing specific. I think as long as we don’t flaunt our relationship at the theater or let it affect our performance, we’ll be fine.”
“Good.”
They chatted as they walked, and after a block or so, Jules took her hand again, holding on to it until they parted at Sophie’s street.
“See you tomorrow at rehearsal,” Sophie said, leaning in for a kiss.
“See you.” Jules kissed her back, cheeks flushed as she walked away.
Phew.Sophie was so done for where Jules was concerned. She walked the rest of the way to her apartment with a smile on her face. It didn’t even dim when she entered her apartment and found Nathan and Anthony sitting on the couch, watching TV. As much as she liked them, it sucked not having a space of her own, especially after a long day of rehearsal.
“Hey, guys,” she said, dropping her bag on one of the kitchen chairs.
“Hey, Soph,” Anthony said. “Haven’t seen much of you lately. Got a new girl?”
“As a matter of fact.” She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and settled in the chair across from them.
“Good for you,” Nathan said, rubbing a hand over the stubbly beard he’d recently grown for a role. “It’s about damn time.”
“Tell me about it,” she said, taking a gulp of water.
“I’m happy for you,” Anthony said. “Bring her by and introduce us sometime.”
