“Screw what she says. A year ago I stopped seeking her approval. It’s about time I stopped caring about what she would or wouldn’t say, too,” I said.
“These are big changes for one night, baby. Are you sure you’re up for it?”
I downed my drink. “Maybe not. But I owe it to myself to, at least, try.”
Scene11
Mike
Mike rode in the back seat of a chauffeured sedan, scanning his messages, James next to him. They were passing the famous Hollywood sign on the way to Mike’s scheduled photo shoot when James set his phone before him. “Check this out.”
A flash intro with bright blue shades and a camera played in the screen background, and a bold title appeared.
Mike Gennaro’s Favorite Screenplay Contest
Mike scrolled down, reading the contest information, checking the guidelines and allowed genres. “I like it. Perfect genres. Cross out sci-fi, though. Maybe in a few years, but not now.”
“Cross out sci-fi and leave all heavy drama genres,” James mumbled, shaking his head. “You’ll get a bunch of arthouse scripts.”
Mike glanced up from the phone. “Good. Maybe one will have a role I might care about. Actually, add arthouse action to the genre list.”
James lifted his hands in mock surrender. “You’re the boss.”
“When will it be ready for submissions?”
“Three weeks tops.” James shoved his phone in the inside pocket of his gray, tweed suit jacket. “Once we hire enough staff, and the judges are confirmed, it’ll be on.”
A shiver of excitement ran through Mike. “Perfect. I can’t wait.” He looked at his manager. “Thank you, man, for doing this.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank your girl. It was her idea. I still think we’d be better off going with another Universal contract.”
“Maybe she should be my manager.”
His gray eyes clouded with a flicker of panic.
Mike laughed, patting him on the shoulder. “Relax. I’m joking.”
James sighed in relief. “Lately, it’s hard to tell.”
Mike shook his head, laughing louder, his eyes on his cellphone screen. 11:42 a.m. She’d still be in bed. His fingers found Maggie’s number and hovered around the dial icon. He shouldn’t wake her up. He shouldn’t call her in front of James either.He’d just called her my girl.
A few more seconds of hesitation then Mike’s finger tapped the icon. He convinced himself that he should call anyway to…thank her. Not because it’d been a week since that party and he’d missed her. Not because her voice had always made his day. And certainly not because he wanted to ask to see her again soon. Now.
“I’m gonna call her to say thanks.” He didn’t know why he felt the need to say that.
James quirked an eyebrow.
One ring.
Two rings.
Three.
Shit. She’s still slee—
“Hey, Superstar.” She didn’t sound sleepy. Her voice went straight to his lips, stretching them into a happy smile.
“Buongiorno. Do you wake up in the a.m. now, like normal people?”
