“I’m sure you do,” he says.
“I’m the one who does all the rejecting now,” I say. “Makes me feel powerful.”
“But you want more, don’t you?” he presses. “Don’t you want what you should have had from the very beginning? Tell me the truth, Barry. You want real power.”
“I do. Yes.”
Kyle leans in close and whispers in my ear.
“Then let me help you.”
His tongue lingers on my earlobe.
“It’s time for a second act,” he continues.
I lean into his hot breath.
“How would that work?” I ask.
“I was about to show you earlier, but let’s take a walk.”
Kyle stands and heads toward the door, high-fiving and air-kissing one beautiful man and woman after another. He stops abruptly.
“Mitch, my man!” he calls to a rugged-looking fellow in the center of a circle of onlookers that I recognize as Kyle’s director. “I wanted you to meet Barry Goggins. Crazy story, dude: Barry was originally cast in that ’80s sitcom,The Golden Girls, as one of the main characters, but he got cut after the pilot.”
“No shit?” Mitch says, running a tan hand through his long, silver hair.
“He’s a helluva actor, Mitch,” Kyle says. “I think he’d make a great Levi in the new movie. I know all this early publicity was to attract some big-name stars to the project and supporting roles, but do we really need anything other than a great actor for the part of Loretta’s long-lost older brother—the only one who got away—who shows up seeking forgiveness, but we don’t know if he’s good or bad? Can’t you see him as that guy?”
Mitch swivels on his stool, scrutinizing my face and body for much too long, as if I’m prized cattle. I shift on my feet, uncomfortable.
“I can,” he finally agrees. “You’ve got a look... hard but vulnerable. I see it, Kyle.” He hesitates. “But Billy Bob Thornton has this pretty much sealed up already. His audition tape was perfection. And he’ll bring the buzz. Sorry, man.”
The earth shifts underneath me again.
I start to walk away, but Kyle grabs my arm and stops me.
“Power,” he mouths. “He’s the right actor for the role, Mitch,” Kyle says, leaning in to talk to the director, his voice suddenly threatening. “Remember, it’s my fucking money that’s making this fucking movie.”
Mitch’s smile is tight as he extends his hand. Finally, he nods, and Kyle releases his grip.
“Let’s talk, Barry. If Kyle says you’re the man, then you’re the man.” He holds out his cell. “Give me your agent’s number.”
I tap in his number. He puts his into my cell.
“Have your agent call me.”
The world stops.
“Thank you,” I finally manage to say. “It was a pleasure meeting you.”
I follow Kyle into the dark. He knows I would follow him anywhere now.
Kyle nods at a guard, who disappears behind a thick ficus hedge. He obviously knows this game well.
Kyle moves next to me until our bodies are touching. The silhouette of the mountains hovers in the distance as if we are on a movie set standing before a green screen.
“Thank you,” I say, my heart racing. “I can’t believe you just did that for me.”
