AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It was quickly replaced by fear.
He was waving at me, so there was no way I could avoid him now. I approached and he quickly jumped up from his booth. We shared one of those awkward hugs between two people who weren’t used to seeing each other out in public.
“What are you doing here?” he asked with a funny look on his face. “Wait. Is this the bar you work at?”
My tongue froze in my mouth. I had no idea what to say to him. Why hadn’t I rehearsed this on the way here?
“I work down on 49th,” I said. “I’m, uh, up here to meet a friend, but I’m early.”
Everything I said was true. Totally, completely true. And also a glaring lie of omission.
“Cool!” Braden said with real enthusiasm. “I’m waiting for someone too. You can keep me company. Unless you’re too good to be seen out in public with the male lead from The Proposition.”
We scooted into opposite ends of the booth. A half-empty pitcher of beer was on the table with a stack of glasses next to it. He gestured to ask if I wanted some, and I nodded.
“Why do you say it like that?” I said. “If anything, you should be embarrassed to be seen with a measly understudy.”
He gave me a wry grin while pouring beer into a glass. It was foamy and dark. “Come on. You know what I mean.”
“I’m not sure I do.”
“Being the lead male in this show is kind of like being the leader of the flat-earth society. It’s not the kind of thing I’ll be bragging to my friends about.”
I laughed at his bluntness. “It’s really bad, right?”
He handed me the beer. “The worst.”
I clinked my glass against his. “To the worst musical New York has ever seen.”
“To self-awareness,” he toasted, and we both took long pulls from our drinks.
“So why’d you accept the lead role of a shitty musical?” I asked.
He pointed with his beer. “Same reason you’re a backup dancer slash understudy to the lead female. It’s the best I can get for now.”
“Come on,” I said skeptically. “You? You’re…”
Gorgeous. Ripped. Charming. Totally lovable in every way.
“You’re a great actor,” I said instead.
“Some friendly ego-stroking isn’t why I asked you to sit with me, but I appreciate the kind lie.”
“I’m serious,” I said. “You’re actually good at this. Do you not think so?”
Braden shrugged and leaned back in the booth. He looked around the bar as if the answer might suddenly come to him.
“I’m okay,” he admitted. “But I’m not at the top of my game with this show. I haven’t been able to get into a real rhythm with my lines during rehearsal. Practicing at home I feel strong and confident, but on stage…”
“I don’t think it’s your fault.”
“What, because the script is so cheesy?”
I waffled. “Partly. It’s also…”
“What?” he asked. “Tell me.”
I studied the top of my beer. “It’s not really polite for an actress to bash someone else.”
