36. Dahlia #2
“She’s dating the quarterback of the football team,” Jane says.
“I’m not sure that’s accurate. We’re hanging out.”
“He asked her to be exclusive and she’s freaking out.” My best friend, once again, fills in for me.
I shoot her a playful glare.
Eddie snaps. “That’s what it is. You’re in love. I knew something was different.”
My face instantly warms.
“I’m not…” I start, but then I think about it.
Really think about it. I’ve always been attracted to him, but it isn’t just that.
I like spending time with him. He makes me smile and laugh.
Sometimes I still feel absolutely frozen and nervous around him, but he also has a way of putting me at ease and making me feel so wanted and cared for.
Besides, would I really want to be with someone who doesn’t make my heart feel like it’s going to leap out of my chest?
I might not like how I clam up around him, but it’s the equivalent of a gut check.
Maybe some of it was fake, but I think most of it was more real than either of us realized.
I never would have let myself fall for him, but I’m glad I did.
When I blink and look back at Eddie and Jane, they’re both grinning at me.
“Well, crap. I think I’m in love with him.”
Eddie laughs. His gaze slides to Jane. “And you? Wait. Don’t tell me. You seem like the type that goes after the bad boys. Maybe a rock star?”
“Oh no,” she says. “Rock stars are attention whores. I need all the focus on me.”
His head falls back as he laughs. “I so get that.”
“Jane is an amazing singer,” I tell him proudly. “She’s coming for your job one day.”
“Oh my god. That’s it.” His eyes widen and his face lights up. “You’re that girl from that show…Ivy. Ivy Greene. God, I loved that show. What was it called? You were so good. You still sing then?”
“Jane on a TV show?” I laugh it off, but when I glance at my friend, she looks like she’s going to be sick. “Wait, what? You were on a TV show?”
My head swivels back and forth between them as an awkward silence hangs over the room.
“It was forever ago,” she says, finally breaking the silence. “A lifetime ago. I quit acting when I was sixteen.”
I’m speechless, and Eddie realizes he’s just dropped a bombshell. “Shit. I’m sorry. You were really great. You were my first voice crush. You’re not acting or singing anymore?”
“No, not really. I’m doing the college thing now.”
“Right.” He rubs at the back of his neck and looks between me and Jane.
Bev comes for him again and Eddie stands, still looking apologetic for outing Jane. “I’ll be right back.”
“Yeah, of course.” I force a smile, but I’m still completely thrown by the Jane news.
Neither of us speaks until Eddie is out of the room.
“I’m so sorry,” she says immediately.
“You were on a TV show?!”
“Yes. Sing Your Heart Out.” Her smile is pained. “And some commercials and other things.”
“Sing Your Heart Out,” I say the name, trying to jog my memory. It sounds familiar, but I can’t remember if I ever watched it.
“It was a show about a group of pop star sisters slogging through a Midwest middle school, and in the summers, traveling the world and performing for millions of fans in their spare time.” She says it all a little dreamily and animated, like she’s repeated it a million times before.
“It ran four seasons. Penelope was a guest on the final season. Our uber-talented cousin who joined us for part of the tour. That’s where she got her big break. ”
“He called you Ivy.”
“Ivy Greene. My agent didn’t think Jane Greenfield had a good enough ring to it.”
“How is it possible I didn’t know this?”
“I wanted to tell you a million times.”
“So, you were some famous child actor and then you just quit acting?”
“After the show was cancelled, I tried to get other jobs, but after what felt like a million rejections, I decided to get my GED and go to college.”
“How has no one else recognized you?”
She shrugs. “It was a kids’ show that ended almost five years ago. I’ve grown like five inches since then and got boobs. Plus, I had green hair.”
“Green?” I shake my head. “Wait. I think I do remember it.”
She smiles a little sheepishly.
“Why didn’t you tell me? Do Daisy and Violet know?”
“No. No one knows.”
“But, why not? You’ve done so many amazing things. You should be proud.”
“It’s just that people sometimes get weird when they find out.
Especially people outside of LA. I got recognized at the Phoenix airport once.
This sweet girl, a year or two younger than us.
And when she asked what I was doing now, and I said I’d stopped acting, she looked like I’d said I decided to kick puppies and tell children that the Easter Bunny is a sham. ”
I snort a laugh.
“At least when I was living here, I was just another out-of-work childhood star, you know? LA is full of them. But when I decided to go to Valley, it felt like a fresh start. A new me. And then I met you, Daisy, and Violet.”
Childhood star?! That phrase is never going to sound normal. But I get wanting a new start.
We fall silent for a few moments. Wow. My best friend is a child star, and I’m hanging out in a rock star’s dressing room. What even is my life?
“I should go and let you do your thing,” she says. “This is why I didn’t want to come. I was afraid someone might recognize me, and this is your weekend. I’m going to go back to the hotel and meet you back here later.”
“Oh no, Ivy, you’re sticking with me. I have so many more questions.”
My interrogation is cut short when Eddie returns with Victor. Seeing the older man immediately sets my spine straight.
“Dahlia,” he says gruffly. “We’re down a runner tonight. How’d you like to fill in?”
“Me?” I squeak as my stomach bottoms out. I turn to look at Jane. I don’t want to abandon her.
“Go. Go,” she insists. “I’ll be fine.”
I’m whisked away, given a quick rundown of my job which is basically running costume changes during the show. There are two of us. I’m paired with a nice girl named Ria, who assures me that she won’t let me screw up.
Hearing the show from back here is sort of surreal. Eddie’s smooth voice is the soundtrack of a lot of behind-the-scenes’ work. I have a whole new appreciation for everyone involved.
Every little break I get, I check the score of the game.
When Valley wins, I feel such pride and excitement.
I wish I were there. Not because I want to stand on the sidelines wearing his jersey where everyone can see, but because I want to show up for him like he has for me the past couple of months.
He’s always the first person to tell me I’m amazing, and I want to be that for him.
I find Jane in the crowd during a long stretch where Eddie doesn’t need a wardrobe change.
“Hey!” she says, smiling when she sees me. “Are you done?”
“Not yet,” I lean in so she can hear me over the noise. “Do you think we can get a flight back tonight after the show or…I don’t know, drive?”
“You want to get back to Felix,” she says with a knowing grin.
“I was an idiot. I should have said yes. I just hope it isn’t too late.”
“It’s not,” she assures me. “Let me see what I can find on flights, but worst case, we’ll pull an all-night road trip and have you there in the morning.”
“Thank you.”
“No thanks needed. I’m so happy for you.” She hugs me.
“Okay, I gotta get back. Ria mentioned Victor hires summer interns, so I want to impress them.” I cross my fingers and hold up my hands for Jane to see.
I do my best to push Felix out of my mind for the next hour while I continue to run wardrobe with Ria, but when Jane texts me and says there aren’t any more flights to Valley tonight, I’m disappointed.
I know it’s just one more day, but it’s been twenty years of wishing for things to happen, and now I want to make my own dreams come true.
When it comes time for Eddie’s last change, Ria and I take the pants I made with the basic tee to just off the stage where he runs as the band plays to keep the crowd occupied.
“How was it?” Eddie asks me, pulling off his sweaty shirt and taking the one Ria hands him.
“Amazing. Thank you for everything.”
He grins, then changes into the pants. As he’s buttoning them up, he asks, “And the boy? Have you talked to him yet?”
“No, not yet. He had a game and they’ll be partying tonight to celebrate.” After their win, I bet Felix is ready to relax after an especially grueling week. “I was hoping to catch a flight back tonight and make some grand gesture, but it’s too late.”
A lady wearing a headset is motioning impatiently for Eddie to get back out there.
“I’ll talk to him when I get back tomorrow.”
“Go now,” he says. “This is my last change. Your job is done. Tell Bev to get you a car to LAX asap.”
“There aren’t any flights.”
“I’ve got you,” he says, then walks onstage to a crowd of screaming fans.