Page 33 of The Ex Factor

‘So, I got my BA in theatre as kind of a joke. I thought I could just fuck around for three years, and no one could say anything because I was in uni. Ended up loving it…’

Ashley frowned. ‘Sorry if this is crazy, but did your agent just call you?’

‘Hmm? Oh, yeah.’

The phone rang again. Molly rolled her eyes. ‘Sorry about this—’

‘You should pick that up!’ Ashley said urgently.

‘It’s never ever about an audition. Last time she needed my National Insurance number.’

‘She’s calling you at night. That’s something.’

‘You think?’ Molly asked.

Ashley was aghast. ‘It’s gonna ring off!’ she nearly yelled and picked the phone up, hitting answer.

Molly groaned as Ashley handed her the phone. ‘If you insist,’ she whispered, before saying, ‘Hi, Karen.’

Karen didn’t bother with hello. ‘Where are you?’

‘On a date.’

Karen sighed down the phone. ‘Congratulations. I need you to get to Soho.’

‘What? Now?’

‘Audition. Laura Cumming dropped out of a sitcom for unspecified reasons—don’t repeat this, but it’s a breakdown—and production starts in a few weeks. No big names are available, and they’ve decided to cast an unknown. They asked for my funniest unemployed client. I’m sending you.’

‘You old flatterer.’

‘Less of the old. You need to go. Now.’

Molly knew what would happen. She’d go to the audition, do her best, get rejected and feel like shit. And she was sitting across from someone who excited her. She hadn’t been excited about anyone or anything in a long time. She didn’t want to go from this to feeling like nothing.

‘I’m busy.’

Karen was horrified. ‘Doing what?’

Molly looked at Ashley. Ashley looked back with a deepening frown that was fucking adorable.

‘Date stuff,’ Molly said.

‘Date stuff? Molly, for god’s sake. It’s a big audition,’ Karen shrieked.

Ashley held out a hand. ‘Can I talk to her?’

Molly stared. ‘What?’

‘Give me the phone.’

Molly looked at her. Then at the phone. Then back at Ashley. She wasn’t kidding.

Molly handed it over.

Ashley put the phone to her ear. ‘Hi. I’m Ashley. The date. Give me the address. I’ll take her there now.’

Molly watched in astonishment as Ashley opened the map app on her own phone. ‘Mmm hmm, right. Okay, yes. I know where that is. We can be there in twenty.’