As the lights came up, AJ thought,It’s over and it didn’t bomb.
“Nice one,” said Ian, giving her five. “And here come the other two musketeers,” he added, as Dave and Toni rushed up the aisle.
“Was thatnotthe most faithful delivery you’ve ever heard?” said Dave, clapping AJ’s shoulder.
“Yeah, under threat of fire hose,” said Toni, winking at AJ. “No worries, Age. I got your back.”
AJ grinned at her friends—they all did.
The next day, theWGA went on strike and Ian mysteriously left work at noon. Around nine that night, he texted AJ and Dave telling them to get to the theater by elevenp.m.for a “surprise.”
“You have no idea what it is?” asked Dave as they stepped onto the Lorimer L platform.
AJ shook her head.
As the train pulled in, Dave watched his reflection, adjusting his new glasses. He telegraphed “nice” enough to play an IT nerd in a string of Best Buy commercials, but Dave got around. AJ was one of the few who got to see him turn off. Under all his charms, Dave felt deeply and was intensely private. He and AJ didn’t confide in each other so much as commune together, which made them excellent roommates.
“Those frames make you look like late-stage-capitalist Harry Potter,” AJ teased him.
“And you look like a house elf on liberation day,” said Dave, eyeing her oversize white T-shirt and holey jeans. AJ laughed and they boarded the train.
The line for the theater stretched back toward Ninth Avenue. Inside, Ian was waiting near the bar.
“There you are,” he said. “Good. I signed you both up. They’re about to open the house.”
“Signed us both—”
“For the jam,” said Ian. “It’s really important you play tonight.”
“What?” said AJ. Jams were a free-for-all, a set of disconnected improv scenes performed by the first twenty-five randos to enlist.
“Okay,” said Dave brightly. “I’ve always wanted to be framed at an improv show.”
As he walked toward the dressing room, Ian turned to AJ. “You too.”
AJ gave a start. “This is cryptic.”
“I’ll explain after,” said Ian, handing her his beer.
AJ glanced warily at the stage. “You know I don’t, like,enjoyperforming.”
“You’ll thank me later,” said Ian, nodding toward the dressing room.
AJ downed the rest of the beer, dropped her stuff, and followed Dave out. Toni was already onstage, chatting avidly with an extremely handsome Asian man AJ had never met.
“Age, what areyoudoing here?” said Toni, beckoning them over.
AJ shook her head. “Ask Ian.”
Toni grimaced, then turned to her friend. “Guys, do you remember me talking about my hot friend Xiaobo from Second City? Look! He’s here!”
“Hi, Xiaobo,” said AJ, grinning. “We’re Toni’s hot friends from UCB—AJ and Dave.”
“AJ, of course! We’ve emailed.” Xiaobo laughed. “I’mstillsad I couldn’t make Toni’s birthday party. It would have been my first DeLorean-themed soiree.”
“There’s always next year,” said Dave, drinking Xiaobo in. “Wait, weren’t you on30 Rock?”
Xiaobo’s nose scrunched. “Only for a few episodes.”
