“Amelia,” Ethan says once the pancake drama has dissolved, “heard anything from your agent lately?”
“Dad,” Asher says, his voice low, just as Millie says “no” and I say “yes.”
Millie whips her head in my direction, her eyes narrowed to slits.
If looks could kill.
Shit.
Both her parents’ eyes widen with excitement. Dammit, it’s too late to backtrack now.
“Millie?” Her mom sets her fork down, waiting for her to answer.
She stabs at a blueberry pancake, probably visualizing my face.
“Mills,” I murmur, nudging her beneath the table.
Eyes narrowed, she shoots daggers my way. “Kris sent in an audition tape, and I got the role of Ms. Honey inMatilda.” Her tone is flat as she speaks, belying the magnitude of the admission.
After a heartbeat of silence, the table breaks into roars of excitement, and I join in with pride.Matildahas been Claire’s favorite movie for as long as I can remember; she will flip when she finds out.
“I’m not going to take it.”
The group abruptly falls silent, all eyes on her. Even Bea can read the room and watches with wonderment.
“Excuse me?” her father asks.
Millie rolls her eyes, no doubt because this is the second time she’s been asked that question this morning.
“Why wouldn’t you take it?” her brother pushes. “I thought you were just on a break.”
“I was, but…” She huffs a breath, her jaw rigid. “I don’t think I want to put myself through that anymore.”
“But you love the theater. And this could be one step closer to Broadway.” Asher sounds more disgruntled than I feel. I like this guy.
I tilt closer and wrap a comforting arm around her shoulder, but she shrugs me off. Heart sinking, I lean back and cross my arms, waiting for her to justify her reasoning.
“Yes, I’ve dreamed of Broadway my entire life,” she says. “But things change, okay? Maybe I’m just not cut out for it.”
I turn to face her. “Honey?—”
She rises from her seat, cutting me off, and exits the room.
“Where’d Lee Lee go?” Bea asks, syrup dripping down her chin.
Rachel stands, but I politely hold up a hand, stopping her. “I’ll go.”
I find Millie on the front porch swing of our cabin, and the second she notices my presence, she rounds on me. “You had no right to tell them my business. Not cool.”
Tears well in her eyes, and for a split second, I contemplate keeping my mouth shut, but…here goes nothing.
“No.” My tone brooks no argument, the harshness causing her to startle. “You know what’snot cool, Amelia? Giving up on your dreams.”
“I told you?—”
“I know what you told me. But I won’t sitback and let you throw it all away because of one fucking prick. If I did, I wouldn’t be a supportive partner. You know if the roles were reversed, you’d do the same thing for me.”
She opens her mouth, then shuts it just as quickly.
