“I’d say find people who support you. Build a team that values you as a whole person, not just as a content generator. And don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself, even when it’s scary. Because you deserve to have it all if you want it.” I pause. “I’d also say, if you are a woman, it’s imperative we support each other.”
“That’s beautiful advice. And in the words of the late, great Madeline Albright, ‘there’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.’” Jess laughs. “Okay,let’s talk about the show itself.Spellboundpremieres in the fall. What can viewers expect?”
We spend the next twenty minutes diving into the show—the casting process, the tone, what makes it different from other supernatural dramas. By the time Jess wraps up the interview, I’m feeling good. Proud, even.
“That was perfect,” she says as the producer signals we’re done recording. “You’re a natural.”
“That wasn’t as terrifying as I thought it would be.”
“See? I told you.” She takes off her headphones. “Want to grab coffee or tea? We can go off the record.”
“Sure.”
We head to the coffee shop next door and settle into a corner table.
“So,” Jess says, stirring her latte. “How are things with Jake?”
I should have seen this coming. “Things are good.”
“Just good?”
“Really good. Great, actually.”
“Blair says you two are basically living together.”
“We’re not living together. He just stays over a lot.”
“Every night, from what I hear.”
I laugh. “Okay, most nights. But it’s not official or anything.”
“Are you going to move in together? After the baby’s born?”
The question catches me off guard. “I don’t know. We haven’t really talked about it.”
“But you’ve thought about it.”
“Of course I’ve thought about it. But I’m trying not to getahead of myself. Things are going well right now, and I don’t want to rush into something just because it’s convenient.”
Jess studies me over her coffee. “What are you afraid of?”
“Who says I’m afraid?”
“Nat. Come on.”
I sigh, running my finger along the edge of my cup. Everyone has always told me what a force Jess is, I’m starting to understand what they mean.
“I just want to prioritize the baby right now. Figure out how to be a mom before I worry about being a girlfriend or whatever Jake and I are.”
“You can be both.”
“I know that intellectually. But emotionally? I’m not there yet, and I like where we are. I need to focus on her. Make sure I’m doing this right before I add anything else to the equation.”
“And Jake’s okay with that?”
“He seems to be. He’s been incredibly patient.”
“He’s in love with you, you know.”
