So she stopped in a random bar she walked past. She sat at a small table by herself and ordered a burger and a beer, watching the other patrons as they laughed and conversed around her, blanketing her in the comforting buzz of conversation.
She was halfway through her second beer when the emotions that had been churning relentlessly inside her all evening finally began to sort themselves into her thoughts. Her life had been in limbo the last few weeks, ever since she broke up with Sophie. She’d been focused on the show, but maybe she’d also been using that as an excuse to avoid dealing with the fallout from their breakup.
And now, the time had come. She had to accept that her relationship with Sophie was over. No more pathetic attempts at friendship, and certainly no more angry sex in her dressing room. It was too painful to keep doing this to herself. She had to move on, for her own sake, and probably for Sophie’s too.
She also had to finish what she’d started when she took the role inIt’s in Her Kiss. Her personal journey had come full circle, and it was time to call her agent and make it official. Pierce had been booking interviews for her as opening night approached, so the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
She was ready to share the way playing Bianca had mirrored her personal experience. She’d met so many people at the stage door who’d told her how Bianca resonated with them, how much it meant to see themselves represented on stage, and Jules was ready to add herself to that conversation.
* * *
Sophie barely sawJules after that night. Obviously, it wasn’t an accident that Jules always managed to be somewhere else when they weren’t onstage. It wasn’t a coincidence that her dressing room door—which she had always kept open in the past—now remained closed. And if it was killing Sophie a little bit more each day, it was nothing less than she deserved. She’d brought this on herself, and now she had to deal with the consequences.
Night after night, they took the stage. They danced, sang, and acted their hearts out, and Sophie wished it could last forever. They’d ironed out all the kinks during previews, and now, their official opening night was almost upon them.It’s in Her Kissseemed poised for off-Broadway success. Early buzz had all been positive, largely due to Jules’s performance as Bianca, but Micki and Amir had received positive reviews as well.
On the last Wednesday in January, Sophie woke as usual on her sofa bed. In just a few weeks, she’d be moving out of this apartment, but she’d coordinated with several of her friends to couch surf until the show had wrapped and she’d left the city.
She got up and folded her bed away the same as she did every morning, then stepped into a quick shower before her roommates were up. Oh, how she missed the luxury of sleeping in, but that wasn’t an option when she slept in the living room. She packed a bag and headed to the coffee shop down the street.
The frigid morning air nipped at her exposed skin, and she tugged her scarf up to cover more of her face. At the coffee shop, she ordered her usual vanilla roast and a muffin, snagging an empty table to eat her breakfast. Then she walked home to relax until it was time to head to the theater that evening. She hoped to spend the majority of her day bingeing Netflix.
She’d just let herself into her apartment when her phone rang. Andrew’s name showed on the screen, andoh God. She could only think of one reason her stage manager would be calling. She connected the call, trying to contain her racing thoughts, because no matter how comfortable she’d gotten with her role in the ensemble, it was never far from her mind that she was also an understudy.Is Jules okay?“Hello.”
“Hi, Sophie, it’s Andrew,” he said. “You’ve probably guessed why I’m calling.”
“Probably,” Sophie echoed, her chest squeezing uncomfortably. She couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to Jules this close to opening night.
“Micki’s had to go out of town for a family emergency, so you’ll be going on as Melissa tonight, and for both of tomorrow’s performances.”
Micki.
Sophie exhaled. She’d spent so much time thinking about her almost-performance as Bianca on the first night of previews, she’d barely considered the possibility of taking the stage as Melissa. “Oh no. I hope everything’s okay.”
“Her grandmother broke her hip, so Micki’s staying with her for her surgery.”
“Oh damn,” Sophie said.
“Yep,” Andrew agreed. “At any rate, you’ve got the afternoon to prepare.”
Sophie’s brain was still catching up to speed. “These are the last two days of previews.” Early reviewers would likely be in the audience, and the production team would be solidifying any last-minute tweaks before opening night on Friday.
“The timing is unfortunate,” Andrew agreed. “But I’m sure you’ll do us proud. I’ll see you at the theater in a few hours.”
“I’ll be there,” Sophie told him. She hung up the phone as a funny tingle spread through her system. She would be going on tonight as Melissa. Unlike what happened with Jules, this was definitely happening.
Sophie dropped onto the couch, fingers tapping against her thighs. She needed to practice, since she had this extra time to make sure she knew Melissa’s part backward and forward. Oh, how she wanted to call Jules. The majority of Melissa’s lines were with Bianca, after all. A few weeks ago, Jules would have come over to rehearse with her, but now…
Oh shit.
Sophie would kiss Jules onstage tonight. And twice tomorrow. She pressed a hand to her lips. This was something she’d never really considered, or at least not since they had broken up.
No doubt Andrew was calling Jules right now to let her know about the change in tonight’s lineup. Would she call Sophie once she knew? But Sophie already knew she wouldn’t. They hadn’t spoken since that night in her dressing room, despite seeing each other every day. Tonight would be awkward, but they were both professionals. They’d get through it.
Sophie picked up her phone and dialed Tabitha.
“I just heard!” Tab said in lieu of hello. “Oh my God, are you freaking out right now?”
“That was fast,” Sophie said with a laugh. “And maybe a little bit.”
