I nearly drop my roses again.
“Thanks.”
“You kind of saved the show, didn’t you?”
I shrug, but I’m blushing. “Yeah, well, you covered. It was a team effort.”
Cam gets this smile—this real, genuine smile—and I remember why I used to like him. He wasn’t always Cameron Haller, SeniorAssholeActor. He used to be just Cam, the first boy I ever kissed.
“Thanks.” He scratches the side of his nose. “It was definitely alarming when he didn’t show up.”
“I bet.”
He crosses his arms over his chest. That softness in his eyes sharpens. “Philip said he missed his cue because he and Tori were hooking up in the scene shop.”
“What? Ew. No,” I say automatically. Not that hooking up is gross (I definitely would like to try that someday), but in the scene shop? With all the sawdust and stuff?
Also, there’s no way. “Tori was backstage. He was alone back there.”
“You sure about that? He came out all flushed, like he’d just...” Cam makes a gesture that’s definitely not sign language.
“Don’t spread rumors just because you’re jealous of him.”
Cam’s face turns red at that. His eyes darken, like curtains closed behind them.
“Don’t you have a stage to go sweep, Jackthon?”
Ass.
But I do need to finish post-show.
I leave my flowers and backpack on the corner of the prop table and get to work.
JACKSON’S POST-SHOW CHECKLIST:
DOUBLE-CHECK PROPS, NOTE ANY BROKENS
CHECK DRESSING ROOMS AND SCENE SHOP
LOCK ALL LINESETS
SWEEP STAGE
SET GHOST LIGHT
WORK LIGHTS OFF, DOORS LOCKED
“Good show tonight,” I tell Paige as I wheel out the ghost light. “See you tomorrow.”
“You’re not coming tonight?”
I shake my head. “You?”
She shrugs. “Thought I’d check it out.”
“Have fun.”
Paige heads out, letting Liam and Jasmine in. They’re holding hands.
