Chapter Sixteen
Chapter
Sixteen
The offseason is off to a great start. We spend three
weeks flying from LA to New York, doing press and all the late-night talk
shows. Everyone wants to talk about Christian Lucas, the underdog who was named
the World Series MVP. I have never been more proud.
However, no one wants to talk about Ella Lucas. I lost the
movie role to another actress because I didn’t give them an answer that night.
Hollywood can’t even wait one night for the World Series, apparently.
Filming finishes in St. Louis just as we’re ready to make
our move to Florida.
Moving in with my in-laws isn’t exactly the dream, but
Christian and I both believe in being frugal, and it made sense. After all, why
find a temporary apartment and pay rent for four months when we don’t have to?
But I am a little nervous about us living with his parents when I still haven’t
really bonded with his father. I don’t want things to be awkward, but they are.
Honestly, I feel like his dad is constantly testing me, like
I’m still on probation in his mind.
Christian and I live on the second floor of the house, and
Mr. and Mrs. Lucas live on the first floor. I don’t walk on my tiptoes and,
apparently, you can hear my steps from above. On more than one occasion, he’s
said, “You walk like an elephant.”
Then, there are my eating habits. I happen to enjoy three
meals a day. Nothing big, but I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with
the occasional snack. Mr. Lucas, on the other hand, only likes to eat one big
meal a day. So, whenever he sees me eating anything, it’s usually met with,
“You eat too much.”
Needless to say, I’m not feeling very at home in my
temporary home. I have to wait until Christian and I are alone in bed at night
to whisper my feelings because, along with the long list of my faults, I’m also
too loud.
Ugh.
“I’m only saying, I’m trying very hard to be nice to him and
show respect, but does he have to criticize everything I do?” I
whisper.
“I’ll admit that he can be a little critical, but that’s
just the way he is. He doesn’t realize how it sounds. Don’t take it
personally.” He says it like it’s no big deal, but it is.
“How can I not?” I ask, hating that as soon as I raise my
voice even a tiny bit, I begin to panic. Like his dad is going to come through
the door and tell me to be quiet.
“This is all temporary. I know it isn’t ideal, but we can
get through it. He mentioned going fishing tomorrow, so you won’t have to deal
with him.”
Great. One day. Whoopee.
“Can’t you talk to him for me? Please?”
“It won’t make a difference. Trust me. You just need to
ignore the comments.”
“Fine.”
But it’s not.
The next day, I have the house to myself, which feels like a
small gift. Christian is at physical therapy, his mom is at work, and his dad
is out on the lake somewhere with a fishing pole and a quiet determination. One
undeniable bright spot is the view. His parents’ house sits right on the water,
and the lake is stunning in the late-morning light.
I decide to treat myself to a sub from the local Publix
They’re famous for them. Everyone knows exactly what you mean when you say you
want a Pub sub. Back at the house, the day is too beautiful to ignore, so I
settle at the kitchen table with my lunch, the lake stretched out in front of
me. I’m starving, and the first bite of my turkey and cheese sub with extra sub
dressing is every bit as glorious as I hoped it would be.
And then I see him.
Mr. Lucas is walking up from the boat dock—back much earlier
than I expected.
Seriously? Already?
He walks in, fresh off the lake, and I can see that he
hasn’t washed his hands. Side note about me, I’m a bit obsessive about germs
and handwashing. I cannot eat anything unless I’ve properly sanitized my hands,
and I do not share my food with others.
“How was the fishing?” I ask, hoping to have a pleasant
conversation.
“Fine. What are you eating?”
“A turkey sub,” I answer.
“Is it good?”
“Yes, it’s a Pub sub, and it’s my favorite.”
All of a sudden, without asking, he grabs my sub with his
unwashed, fishy hands and takes a bite. We both stand there in silence as he
chews.
Are you flipping kidding me right now?
“Yes, that’s good,” he says before putting it down, turning
and walking away. I don’t think I let out a breath until I see him walk into
his bedroom and shut the door.
For a moment, I’m too stunned to even move. I’m not sure
whether I want to scream or cry. Unfortunately, I have no choice. As calmly as
I can, I wrap up my sandwich and throw it in the trash before tiptoeing up the
stairs.
Something’s got to give.
Soon.
Again.
And thankfully, it does.
A week after the sandwich incident, I’m home alone again
with my father-in-law. I’m looking over a script for a single-episode spot I’ll
be filming next week when my phone rings.
“Someone needs a secretary,” he mutters. “Five kids, and I
never heard a phone ring this much.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Instead, I grab my phone and
head upstairs to Christian’s and my bedroom. It’s Tracy. Things have been a
little cool between us since the night the Archers won the World
Series, and I lost the movie role, and every time she calls, I get a knot in
the pit of my stomach.
“Hey, Tracy. What’s up?”
“Ella, are you sitting down?”
“Um…” I move over to the bed and sit. “Now I am,” I say
nervously. I can’t imagine the movie role being open for a third time, so I’m
not sure what this could be about.
“Are you ready to be part of the Galactic Wars
universe?”
Galactic…?
The gasp is out before I can stop it, and I’m instantly back
on my feet. “Are you serious? They want me?” I ask excitedly.
“They sure do! And FYI, I don’t know any specifics about the
project other than the fact that you’ll be playing a new character, and you’ll
have to sign an NDA.”
“That’s fine. OMG! This is amazing. You have no idea how
much I needed this today.”
“Listen, I told them you will be back in town next week for
filming and scheduled a time for you to meet with them. I’m sending the
contract and NDAs over to you now. Congratulations, Ella. This is a very big
deal. The Galactic Wars universe has staying power. I think this is
your big break.”
“This is incredible! Thank you, Tracy. I can’t wait to get
started.”
“I’m also emailing you the calendar for next week’s filming
and meeting with the showrunners for the Galactic Wars project. And I
put in a lunch for the two of us.”
“That’s great. Thanks again. I’ll look everything over and
get it signed and sent back to you ASAP.” I’m practically bouncing on my toes
with giddiness, so I don’t make too much noise. “I’ll see you next week.”
But I am so freaking psyched that I can’t control myself and
I do a full-out happy dance—you know, arms waving, jogging in place, until I
hear, “Stop jumping around up there!”
Yeah. I think I’m going to start packing for my trip now.
This is the beginning of my Galactic Wars
era.
The overall vibe and energy level of everyone involved is
contagious. We’re all in on this giant secret that the world can’t know about
yet, and it is so flipping hard not to talk about it to anyone.
Well, I tell Christian I’m voicing a brand-new character for
the GW universe, but I am not allowed to tell him anything about my character
or the storyline. None of it.
It’s killing me.
Ashla Voss is part of a whole new series set in the Galactic
Wars franchise. When we first meet Ashla, she is impulsive and reckless.
She rushes into battle, desperately trying to prove herself to her elders.
She’s snippy and sarcastic, but considering she’s only fourteen years old,
those traits make sense. And I love how feisty she is. The Echo
Wars will be a new series for Storyteller Studios, and we’re starting with
the first season. Twenty-two episodes.
Twenty-two episodes. That’s a sign it will be something
amazing, right? Plus, it’s like my life has come full circle, and I’m right
back where I started. I have to believe it’s a good sign.
My biggest issue?
The release date is over eighteen months away.
That means I have to keep this project to myself for a year
and a half.
I have no idea how I’m going to do it, but I know I will.
It’s too big a deal to blab about it and end up ruining everything.
Honestly, I grew up being a fan of the Galactic Wars
movies. It’s been popular for almost thirty years. I had no idea that adding
new characters, movies, and series was even a possibility. As I mentioned, we
all thought that the creator of the series was done and had closed the book on
the Galactic Wars franchise. So, this was all a huge surprise, to say
the least. My part is a major character no one knew about, and now I have a lot
of homework to do as I dive deeper into the universe.
I’m so excited to get started.
“So, tell me more about your character.”
“I can’t.”
“Are you voicing a new character or an existing one?”
“A new one.”
“What’s her name?”
“I can’t say.”
And it’s killing me.
Christian lets out a long breath. We’re video chatting on
our laptops, and he’s sitting on our bed back in Florida, shirtless, his
baseball hat on backward. He’s practically catnip, and it stinks that he’s
twenty-five hundred miles away.
“So, what can you tell me?”
Tell you about what? Oh, yeah…the show. Seriously,
my husband is gorgeous.
“I really can’t. I’m sorry.” Then I sigh. “But you want to
know something really cool?”
“Sure.”
“This…what I’m doing…is…” Drats. If I tell him it’ll be
twenty-two episodes, will that violate my NDA? Now I’m not so sure.
“What you’re doing is…?” he prompts with a boyish grin.
“I can’t say,” I reply miserably, my shoulders sagging.
“Let’s just say my lucky number plays a part in it.”
He chuckles. “Great. You’re voicing a part you can’t tell me
about, for a new Galactic Wars animated project I don’t know anything
about, but twenty-two has a significant meaning to it. Awesome.” I know he’s
teasing. Kind of. And I feel guilty all over again.
“You know I’d tell you if I could. But isn’t it a little
wild that I’m going to be part of such a popular franchise? Like…in a million