Page 18 of Apparently, I’m Trouble

I was dubious about that. “He couldn’t have reacted well when you told him.”

Gem hummed thoughtfully. “Actually, once I told him he’d be playing opposite Kira, he was pretty enthusiastic about it. They start rehearsals next week.”

Lilly and I shared a knowing look. Someone had a crush on the new girl. Maybe I should tell him that we cut out all the kissing scenes.

“Great.” I straightened. Rehearsals might not start until next week, but I had a meeting with Gem to go over the set design. “I’ll see you tonight then. I just have to shower first. I smell like someone poured rancid milk on my head.”

Lilly and Gem wrinkled their noses at me. I picked up my tote, now brimming with unit notes, and was almost out the door when Gem called after me.

“Hang on, I need to talk to you about the script.”

I turned back to her. “Can it wait? I’m so gross, Gem.”

She eyed me for a moment, then pursed her lips. “You are, aren’t you? All right. It can wait.”

I skipped out without a backward glance.

Chapter 8

Theo

SOUTH BRONX CLASSICAL

I was busy eyeing the thick planks of wood lined against the amphitheater wall as Miss Gem nattered confidently about how long it’d take to build a realistic-looking porch for her main characters to sit on. I sized up the stage, made a few mental notes about height and width, and scribbled her requests down on paper.

“Something like this?” I asked, showing her the sketch I’d thrown together.

She hummed a tune as she looked it over, and I recognized the bars of a Def Leppard song.

“You like rock?” I asked, surprised.

“Hmm?” She looked up, distracted. “Oh. I didn’t used to, but Miss Walker does. She had her music on while she helped me put the script together, and now it’s stuck in my head.”

I clamped my mouth shut. I needed to hear about Mia Walker like I needed to hear the death knell.

“Speaking of,” Miss Gem went on, slapping the paper I held with the back of her hand. “I’m pretty sure she’ll want to weigh in on this.”

My brain stuttered. But before I could ask why Mia would need to know anything about the set design, a refined British accent growled out, “Oh for the love of–”

I looked up just in time to see Mia glaring at the ceiling, flipping it off with both hands.

My eyes moved on their own as I took in her smooth, long legs, bare in a breezy white floral dress, and my mind went from stuttering to shattered.

She marched toward me and Miss Gem, looking about as angry as she always did, and I struggled to keep my mouth closed.

“What are you doing here?”

My gaze dropped to her chest before I wrenched my focus to the ground, but the damage was done. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and the hard peaks of her perky nipples were just… there, pushing against the thin fabric of her dress.

“Well?” she prodded. “Can’t I go a whole twenty-four hours without having to see you?”

Miss Gem gave her a pointed look. “Mr Hudson volunteered to design our sets.”

Mia crossed her arms and let out a noise. “You’re a musician, a father, and now you’re a carpenter? Is that what you do for work?”

Answering her would’ve meant speaking, and right now my tongue felt too big for my mouth. I lifted a shoulder instead.

“As talkative as ever,” she muttered, exasperated. “Where’s Kira?”