AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I open my mouth to tell him that I’ve already made up my mind, but only a sigh comes out. When Dad gets an idea in his head, it can be completely impossible to talk him out of it. You just have to wait a little while until his first wave of excitement fizzles out.
“Fine,” I concede.
We say our goodbyes and I hang up, feeling more agitated than I was beforehand.
Of course, my dad not accepting my decision is agitating. But what’s also agitating is this balancing game I have to play between chasing my dream of acting and trying to make practical decisions for my future.
I don’t want to end up like my parents, without a marketable skill and struggling to find precarious jobs to make ends meet; I also don’t want to give up on my dream just because it’s hard, just because it requires sacrifices, just because success is unlikely.
I know I have the talent it takes to make it on stage—I also know that talent isn’t enough. Luck counts for a lot.
Now that I’ve ended the call with my dad, slivers of doubt start to furrow into my mind. Maybe I should take him up on his offer.
Sharing a stage with one of the top stage actors in the country? That’s an opportunity that very few college students have. And there’s no doubt that one of the hottest actors staring in one of the hottest contemporary plays is going to attract the attention of critics—critics who will then come and see me, even if I only have a couple lines.
And if I can make the most out of those couple lines …
But this internship is important. For one, I’ve already accepted it. Backing out now would reflect poorly on me. And I’ll need the experience if I want this Accounting minor to actually make me competitive if and when I’m looking for a regular nine-to-five job.
Know what would be great? If I were a spoiled rich kid and I didn’t have to worry about practical considerations. If I didn’t have to worry about setting myself up to make a decent living, because that was just a given.
A lofty position that certain people I know find themselves in …
Letting out a puff of self-pity, I switch off the ignition of my car and head into the convenience store I’m parked in front of. Summer and I are running low on some household supplies, and now’s as good a time as any to pick some up. Maybe a tiny shopping trip will help clear my mind, anyway.
But when I get back to my car, sling the bags into the passenger’s seat, and insert the key to turn the ignition back on, my mind becomes anything but clear.
The car won’t start.
I try again and again, to no avail. I let my head fall back against my seat, clenching my eyes tightly. This car’s been giving me trouble for a while now, but of course I haven’t had the money to get it looked at. This is the first time it hasn’t started, though.
I hop out of my seat again and walk towards the front of the car, popping the hood. When I find myself gazing at the intricate jumble underneath, I wonder why the hell I even bothered. It’s not like I have any freaking clue what I’m looking at.
For a couple moments I just stand there, frozen in frustration, staring blankly at gears, tubes, and auto parts I know literally nothing about.
It’s not a mystery what I’m going to have to do. I’m going to have to get it towed. My stomach turns at the thought. Heaven knows how many hundreds of dollars that alone is going to cost.
And have it towed to where? An auto shop for repairs I can’t afford?
Better to just have it towed in front of my house and let it sit out by the curb. It’s not like I need a car in my day-to-day life in Cedar Shade, where everything is within walking distance. I mostly just drive back and forth between Burlington for auditions and to see plays, since it’s so much easier than catching the irregularly schedule bus that connects the small college town to the big capital city.
“Nothing hotter than a woman who knows how to turn a wrench.”
My back stiffens at the sound of that familiar, casual drawl. Surely, at this time of all times, the universe wouldn’t be so cruel as to …
When I turn my head to the side, I find that the universe is indeed that cruel.
By some terrible twist of fate, none other than Tuck McCoy is standing next to me. Right in front of the black Mercedes that his rich family no doubt paid for.
I bet he’s never had to deal with a single moment of car trouble in his life.
As usual, my frustration at seeing him contrasts with the boyish grin on his lips. Lips that are entirely too plush. It’s just not fair.
Everything about Tuck McCoy’s appearance is unfair. His dimples unfairly accentuate his high cheekbones and angular features. His jaw is unfairly sharp and broad. His bright blue eyes are downright unjust.
“Please tell me you’re not stalking me, Tuck,” I deadpan.
He chuckles. That low, rumbly timbre of his voice? Also unfair. “I was driving past and had to do a double take when I saw some girl standing over her engine, gawking at it like she was looking at an instruction manual written in Mandarin. Couldn’t believe it was you. What are the odds?”
