Page 112 of Small Town Swoo
“Thank you.” She clutched the blankets to her bare skin,and it took every ounce of strength I had not to rush back into the room and take her in my arms.
Fifteen seconds later, I was walking down her driveway toward my car, wondering how long this unbearable tightness in my chest was going to last.
I was finding it hard to breathe.
TWENTY-TWO
dash
When I landed in L.A.,I discovered I had a voicemail from Beatrix.
“Hey, Dash. Great news! I spoke with Katherine Carroll’s assistant, and she said this isn’t an audition—you already have the part!” She laughed gleefully. “She said all you have to do is show up at the house at four. I already texted you the address, so good luck, and let me know how it goes. Bye!”
Still sitting in my seat in first class, I stared out the window slack-jawed as we taxied to the gate.
What the fuck? Had I heard that right? I already had the part without even having to audition? It seemed too good to be true—could the universe bethatimpressed with my newfound willingness to be more vulnerable? I was almost afraid to listen to it a second time.
But I did, and the message was the same. I had the part.
My first instinct was to call Ari, and I nearly tapped her name in my phone before I remembered I’d promised not to contact her for a little while. Frowning at my phone, I realized there was no one else I really wanted to talk to at thatmoment, no one else who’d really understand how fuckingmonumentalthis was.
On the drive home from the airport, I called Izzie, who didn’t answer, and then tried Beatrix.
“Hello?”
“Hey, this is Dashiel Buckley.”
“Dash! Did you get my message?”
“I did, but I just want to make sure I understand. I already have the part?”
“That’s what she said. Amazing, right?”
“Yeah, but...it’s just so crazy. I’ve never even met Katherine Carroll.”
“She must have done her research on you after Izzie reached out. Something she saw impressed her!”
“I guess.” What the hell could she have seen that was so impressive?Malibu Splash? That guest arc onLaw & Order? The ad campaign for Hot Bod Sunscreen?
“Face it, Dash. You’ve got charisma. She saw through the character of Bulge to your raw talent.”
I scrubbed a hand over my jaw. Checked my reflection in the rearview. “Maybe.”
“Wait until we tell Izzie,” she bubbled. “She’s gonna flip.”
“Is she still off the grid?”
“She must be. I haven’t heard from her in a day or so. Listen, you know what they say—don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, right? The assistant definitely said you had the part in question, and all you had to do was show up Tuesday at four.”
“I can handle that,” I said, my confidence growing.
“Let me know how it goes, okay? I’d say good luck, but you don’t even need it!”
“Thanks, anyway. I’ll be in touch.” Ending the call, Idebated breaking my promise to Ari. Then I thought about those tears in her eyes and the catch in her voice when she asked me to give her time.
I couldn’t be so selfish.
That evening, I had dinner delivered and ate it alone in front of the television. It wasn’t nearly as good as anything Ari made, and I missed her company, her laugh, even her sappy taste in movies. In fact, as I flipped through channels, I came across a romantic comedy I’d never seen before that looked right up her alley. I watched for a few minutes and reached for my phone.
