Chapter 7 #2
“Let’s run Scene Three from the fight, then we’ll break for lunch,” Rachel announced.
Dancing to music in Mitch’s embrace, Blanche reacted in shock as Stanley charged in and threw the radio out the window. Stella shouted at him, he hit her, and his poker buddies subdued him as Blanche hustled Stella upstairs to Eunice’s apartment.
Stanley staggered outside, throwing back his head to bawl “Stelllaaaahhhh!” at the top of his lungs.
I’d watched Corey play this iconic moment dozens of times. Each time, he’d convinced me that no matter how badly his character treated his wife, he’d do anything to get her back. And he’d convinced me that as carelessly as he used me, I still needed him.
I’d believed this moment was about us. Toxic and torn, we belonged together.
But now? All Corey convinced me of was that he was a good actor with a healthy set of lungs. This moment wasn’t about us. It wasn’t even about Stella. It was about him.
My mind kept going to the catwalk, counting the hours until tonight.
I barely managed to slip into Blanche’s skin for the rest of the scene. As soon as Rachel announced the lunch break, I hurried backstage.
“What’s the rush?” Eden teased.
“I’m starving.”
“Oh, me too.” She linked her arm through mine. “Let’s grab lunch.”
I should go with her, get something to eat. Not make a fool of myself by finding Gavin and flirting with him in front of the cast and crew. Especially Rachel, who’d so helpfully informed him that I was to be avoided at all costs.
So I sat on the lawn in front of the theater with Eden, Gretchen, and Hope, eating burritos from the student union.
I tried not to stare at Gavin, who was sitting at a nearby picnic table with Rachel and the other faculty.
His black and gray flannel shirt hid his lean body, keeping me from drooling excessively.
Until he rolled up his sleeves under the sun’s warmth, displaying his swirling ink.
To my disappointment, he left while the rest of the group was still eating, his stride sharp and graceful.
“Where’s Corey?” Eden asked.
I shrugged and turned my face to the sun.
“He said something about an errand,” Hope said. “You two looked cozy last night.”
Eden laughed. “Just friends, I promise.”
I took my wrappers to the trash, bringing Hope’s and Eden’s as well. When I turned, Gavin stood behind me, holding a cardboard tray with four paper cups.
“So you found Korner Koffee.” My voice sounded thick and hoarse. “Are those for Rachel and company?”
“Mm-hm.” The deep gravel of his voice sent ripples down my spine. “And you.”
“Me?”
“If you want it.” He offered me a cup. “Medium chai with oat milk.”
“That’s my drink! How’d you know?”
“Matt at Korner Koffee asked if I’d met my neighbors yet. I mentioned you. He told me your usual order and said you hadn’t come in this morning.”
I stared at the cup in his hand. How could he be so sweet? Men didn’t do things like this for me, especially when sex was off the table.
“Thanks. I’ll pay you back—”
“No need.”
“You already bought me dinner last night. Now you’re getting me chai?”
“It’s in my own interests. I want you awake tonight after rehearsing all day.”
I accepted the cup. Our fingers brushed, sending a jolt through me. I took a sip of chai, feeling about twenty degrees warmer.
“Have you tried yours?” I asked. “Matt’s brews are the best.”
Working his cup out of the holder, Gavin studied me, like he was framing me in a photo. My cheeks burned even hotter.
Quickly, I clinked my cup against his. “To our project.”
“You haven’t signed the contract yet.”
“Relax, Gavin. I’m your girl.”
His mouth twitched. “To our project.” He lifted his cup and drank.
Some instinct made me glance to the right. Rachel was watching us, her lips pursed.
“No disrespect to Uncle Charlie, but this is much better coffee,” Gavin remarked.
My eyes snapped back to his. “Milkshakes are more his territory. I should go! Rehearsal’s starting soon.”
“Tonight, then.” A smile hovered over his lips. “Meet me at my car? I’ll give you a ride.”
My stomach flipped. I nodded, hurrying away.
I didn’t dare look back at Rachel. Suddenly, I felt like a kid, worried I’d get Gavin in trouble. Which was ridiculous. He was a grown man. I was a fucking adult myself. We were free to talk.
When I did glance back, Rachel was striding purposefully toward me. Rachel strode purposefully everywhere, so maybe she didn’t actually want to corner me about my business with the new lighting designer, but I wasn’t in the mood to find out.
Cutting across the lawn, I zigzagged casually behind the theater, ending up near the alcove that had belonged to Corey and me.
Our glorified fuck spot. In the daylight, it was nothing more than a strip of asphalt bracketed by concrete walls, blocked off by a couple of dumpsters.
“Ugh,” I muttered. Downing my chai, I pitched the cup triumphantly into the closest dumpster, waving a grand goodbye.
A hand suddenly grasped my arm and pulled me into the alcove. The scent of Corey’s cologne filled my nose.
“Where. Were. You?” he growled.
My stomach sank like a stone. Right. He’d expected me to meet him behind the student union. To give up my lunch break and drop everything for him.
I wanted to tell him to leave me alone, but the words congealed in my throat.
“Where were you?” He shook my arm. “You stood me up. You have never fucking stood me up. I was waiting for you, alone. Like an idiot.”
You are an idiot, Corey. For thinking you would always come first for me, when I’ve always come last for you.
The protest filled my head, but refused to leave my mouth.
“Something came up.”
“It couldn’t wait?”
His fingers were a vise, sinking in cruelly. I felt defenseless in my sleeveless white dress, my cheetah coat hanging in the dressing room.
“I said, something else came up,” I repeated, my voice rising. “You can’t assume I’m available.”
He maneuvered me against the wall, his fingers digging into my upper arms, his body pressing against mine.
These were moves I would have welcomed a day ago. Yet sourness filled my mouth, the sweet spices of the chai metamorphosing into something tainted. Something I thought we’d always shared — the darkness inside us.
I didn’t want to share that darkness now.
“Let go,” I choked out.
Corey released my arms, but he didn’t step back.
“Did you fuck someone else, Jorie?” he asked softly. “You were on your way to see me and you took a detour?”
Shuddering, I shook my head.
“I saw you. Flirting with that prick of a lighting designer. Was it him?”
“No,” I gritted out. “You’ve never cared what I do.”
“I do now. I don’t want you anywhere near that asshole. If you so much as talk to him while this show is running, I swear to God, you’ll regret it.”
This was like a bad dream. Did he think his behavior was okay?
Tell him, Jorie. Tell him it’s over.
But his eyes looked wild, and I was afraid.
“Rehearsal’s starting soon,” I managed. “We need to go in.”
Corey blocked my exit. “Don’t play games, Jorie. Not now. Not four days before the show opens. We need to have each other’s back.”
“You put me down last night!” I blurted, my voice finally gaining strength. “Was that your idea of having my back?”
He looked astonished. “What are you talking about?”
“You, Max, and Ty. I heard you in the lobby. You said there was a ‘brotherhood.’ You said I’d screw anybody.”
He rolled his eyes. “Come on, Jorie. That’s just guys blowing off steam. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“You said I can’t act,” I hissed.
He shook his head, smiling. “Take it easy, all right? You know I don’t believe that. Don’t be so sensitive.”
Inside, I was fuming. “Hasn’t this always been a game between us? Haven’t you ever wondered who will win?”
“Places in two minutes!” Rachel called from the house.
Corey’s eyes sparked in surprise. “Just don’t stand me up again.”
He walked through the stage door, leaving me alone.
Unsteady and raw, I changed into my costume. Drawing on Blanche’s skin, I stepped onstage into a pool of light.