AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Not exactly, but I have a hand in it. I collaborate with producers and directors to find the best talent for each role. But the final say is theirs.”
I nodded. “Sounds like a cool job. How did you get into that?”
“I’ve been obsessed with movies since I was a little kid. I always knew I wanted to work in the business somehow. I’m not comfortable in front of the camera, so I went to college to be a screenwriter. I did an internship for a producer who does a lot of book-to-screen stuff. He was in the middle of filming one movie and adapting two others. One of the supporting actresses had to drop out of the production he was shooting, and I mentioned that I thought a little-known actress would be a great replacement. The producer had never heard of her before, but he wound up watching her work and hiring her. After that, he asked me who I thought would be good for the roles in another screenplay he’d just acquired. He liked all of my recommendations and suggested I do an internship for a casting agency to see if I might be interested in that as a career. I never looked back after that. Five years later, I opened my own company, and that producer was my first big client.”
“Wow. That’s a cool story. You must be really good at your job.”
Devyn smiled. “I like to think I am. I love what I do anyway.”
“So you’re working remotely while you’re here?”
She nodded. “I am, but it’s not ideal. I really need to be accessible for my clients. People in L.A. like to do lunch and take meetings to make things happen, not Zoom.”
“How long are you planning on staying in New York?”
She blew out a breath. “I have no idea. The kids really need to finish the school year, which is another two months. I don’t want to pull them out mid-semester. Lord knows I had to do that enough times growing up, and I hated it. But if Vera isn’t back by the time school lets out, I guess I’ll have to relocate them to California with me. I don’t want to displace them again. They’ve been in New York for four years now, and that’s the longest they’ve ever lived in any state. It’s hard moving and changing schools at any age, but it’s really tough when you’re a teenager in high school. Kids form their cliques, and it’s not as easy to make new friends as it was when you were little.”
I’d had the same friend crew since kindergarten, but she was probably right. “Do you have any idea where your mom is?”
“No clue.”
“Heath mentioned that he was the one who called you. So she took off without even knowing who was going to take care of them?”
Devyn nodded. “Sadly, that’s normal for her. In Vera’s book, once you hit double digits, you can fend for yourself.”
The front door blasted open. Hannah rolled in first, and Heath was right behind her carrying a pizza.
“I got a job!” he announced.
“A job?” Devyn’s brows pulled together. “Where? You’re only fifteen.”
“At the pizza place down the block.”
“Doing what?”
“Cleaning tables and making boxes and stuff.” Heath lifted his chin to me. “What’s up, Rubber Ranger?”
I tilted my head. “Rubber Ranger?”
Heath smirked. “That’s your new superhero name, since you saved Judy and all.”
I assumed Judy was the mannequin he’d stolen. “It’s cute that you name your dolls before you make them your girlfriend.”
Heath chuckled as he tossed the pizza box on the table. “Come on, let’s eat. The owner gave me a free pie when he hired me.”
“I made chicken and broccoli,” Devyn said.
Hannah wrinkled her nose. “Again?”
“I’m sorry if my menu isn’t as diverse as you’d like.”
Hannah pouted. “Can we just eat the pizza? It smells so good. We can eat your boring chicken tomorrow.”
Devyn shook her head, looking frustrated. “Fine. But you’re eating the chicken tomorrow.”
Heath flipped open the top to the pizza box. “Want a slice, Rubber Ranger?”
I glanced over at Devyn, who seemed hesitant. But fuck it. I hadn’t eaten, and I’d already overstayed my welcome prying. So why not?
