The corner of his mouth twitched. He was studying her with an unreadable expression. “What do you propose to do about the ending?” he asked stiffly.
AJ’s heart jumped. He hadn’t completely shut her down.
“We’d improvise,” she said. “From what Eudora wrote, it seems like that’s how it was originally intended to be performed. I just think she was so heartbroken when she lost Ezell she told everyone it was unfinished rather than watch other people butcher it.”
Noah was thinking. “So that night…she was, what, initiating us?”
“Her notes imply as much,” said AJ. She pushed on. “We could do it this fall. You could direct. A limited run. Ten or twelve performances.”
Noah leaned back in the desk chair. “One play, twelve different endings.” He was intrigued in spite of himself.
“I think we’d be able to attract a decent audience,” she said. “Arho fandom, and all.”
“I’m not worried about that,” said Noah. He ran a hand over his face. “I need to think.”
AJ waited as he stared out the window at something she couldn’t see.
“I am serious. You and I need to make a clean break,” he said finally. “But if we do as you suggest, it would make more sense to close the play, then go our separate ways.”
AJ swallowed. “I agree.”
“Permanently,” said Noah. “We can’t keep doing this.”
“I agree,” AJ repeated, her heart buckling.
For a moment, he looked extremely fatigued, and AJ wondered if she shouldn’t just give up. Then he glanced at her searchingly. He nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay?” said AJ.
Noah nodded again. “Okay.”
And he meant it. AJ felt the vacuum slow and stop, the dome fluctuate then vanish.
“Okay,” said AJ, forcing her legs to remain upright as relief overtook her. It wasn’t over yet. She felt the urge to formalize this accord in some way. She looked down at the white box.
“Here,” she said, walking toward him. “You read it first.” She placed the script on the desk. She could feel him watching her but kept her eyes down, like a shy student handing in an assignment. She just had to get out of this room, then she could go back upstairs and cry. She turned to go.
“AJ.”
AJ kept walking.God fucking damn it,she was getting out of this room.
“Age.” Noah’s voice was pleading, but AJ would not turn back.
Her hand was on the doorknob when he caught up with her. With one deft movement, he pressed the door closed, preventing her exit. AJ felt herself starting to cry. She refused to look at him as his body hovered beside hers.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, fighting back tears. “I’m so sorry about all of this.”
AJ was in so much pain she couldn’t breathe. “I know,” she said almost inaudibly.
“Look at me,” he said, touching her shoulder.
AJ shrugged him off, shaking her head.
“Look at me,” he said more forcefully.
His hand closed around her upper arm, and AJ was so startled she did look up. As their eyes connected, she found heat in his, and indignation broke through her like a dry wind. She shook her head and reached for the doorknob. Again, he shut the door.
“Noah,” she warned.
