Perform （v.） – Scarlett
PERFORM (V.):
SCARLETT
Scarlett Winters Dazzles in Opening Night Previews
A Star is Born: Scarlett Winters Is One to Watch For
Where Has Scarlett Winters Been Hiding?
My heart swells with every great review I read, but there’s only one person I’d love to hear “Good job” from, and he’s hundreds of miles away—defending the devil.
“Hey, Beautiful.” Cole presses a kiss to my forehead. “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.” I smile at him. “Just taking in my debut.”
“Well, it’s nothing short of incredible.” He winks at me. “But unfortunately, you’re about to see the worst part of working in theater.”
“I know some negative reviews are bound to come in eventually.”
“No, not that.” He laughs. “Fundraising.”
“What?”
“You heard me.” He pulls me close. “I just donated one hundred dollars to the theater in your name. So, now you only have fifty thousand and four hundred fifty to go.”
“They said fundraising was optional.”
“They lied.” He grabs my bag. “Dinner before they hit you with reality tomorrow?”
“I guess.”
“Did you finish this one already?” He points to a copy of Peter Hansel’s first novel I bought the other day. “What did you think?”
“It’s pretty good,” I admit. “I went down a rabbit hole last night and…” I stop myself.
Telling him I researched the man my ex-boyfriend hates—and read his last two court transcripts before he became an author—seems a bit too much.
Is telling him that Peter Hansel seems just like my father “too much” as well?
“I looked up his other old books—” I make a quick correction instead. “I’m excited to see where I should start next.”
“His newest one.” He deadpans. “You know, the one he’s on tour for.”
I give him a blank stare.
“No Parole for You,” he says, like I should know the title. “It’s the fictional follow-up to the story that started his entire career.”
I’m still confused.
“The guy—Jameson Tate—comes up for parole later this year,” he says. “He’s pretty much guaranteeing it won’t happen since the murder was so brutal. His author’s note at the beginning says he feels bad for ever taking on the case. So, you know it’s…”
I can’t hear the rest of his words.
“I need a rain check on dinner.” I snatch my bag. “I’ll call you later.”
I rush out of the theater without another word and head straight to my mother’s hotel.
I changed my mind about only wanting the signing package for Friday.
Can you get me a VIP Q&A session ticket too?
Mom
Absolutely.