He grimaced. “No. I don’t want them to know until it’s one hundred percent a done deal. Please don’t say anything.”
“But—”
“They’re going to hate me and that will distract them. I want them giving their all on Saturday night, and they’re only going to do that if they believe the stakes are real. They’re all talented. And really, they don’t need me to get the theater. If the investors see the show and want in, I’ll ask Monique to take over the role I was going to play in running the business if she wants it. They can have the theater without me.”
Hollyn frowned. “You’re an integral part of the show, Jas.”
“They can carry the show without me,” he said firmly. “I won’t deny them another opportunity. I will be there Saturday with you, supporting you and the group onstage, giving it everything I have, and we’re going to make it happen for them. I want my dream, but I’m not going to sabotage theirs in the process.”
Hollyn met his gaze, not feeling great about keeping that secret from the group. “Okay. But you promise you’re going to be there? I don’t want to have to explain why you’re not.”
He reached up as if he were going to touch her face but then he lowered his hand. “I swear. I’ll be there.”
She nodded and swallowed past the knot in her throat. “So I guess it’s time for our final practice session in our fake relationship, huh?”
“What do you mean?”
“The breakup.”
“Hollyn,” he said, pain in his voice.
“Am I supposed to throw things?” she asked, trying to smile. “Or call you names? Maybe slam some doors or slap your face?”
The corner of his mouth lifted in a sad smirk. “Would that make you feel better?”
She lifted her hand and gently swatted his face. “Didn’t work.”
“Maybe try something else.”
She stared at him, memorizing every little feature of his face. “Maybe I need the opposite.”
“What’s that?” His voice was soft, knowing, like he could read every thought in her head.
“A proper goodbye.” She climbed off the couch and put out her hand. “Come to bed, Jasper Deares. It’s late.”
His eyes searched hers, longing there. “Hollyn, are you sure…”
“I’m sure. Let’s end this with a good memory.”
Jasper took her hand, kissed her knuckles, and let her lead him to the bedroom.
They couldn’t have this forever. But they could have one more night.
It would have to be enough to last her a lifetime.
Because she knew one thing for sure. No matter which men came into her life in the future, she’d never meet another one quite like Jasper Deares.
Chapter Thirty
Kenzie had transformed herself. She stood across from Jasper in the audition room with her hair parted down the middle and rolled into a tight bun at the back of her neck, her dress a drab shade of gray, and her makeup so understated it made it look like she wasn’t wearing any. Aurora Boring come to life.
She’d insisted Jasper shave his face smooth for the audition—Eddie Ecstatic wouldn’t have stubble—and he was wearing a bright-pink polo and chinos. They’d been practicing this office scene for hours every day since they’d arrived in LA. But this time, the director and one of the producers were sitting in the room, ready to see them perform and determine Jasper’s fate.
The four of them had met beforehand to discuss the concept for the show, and Jasper had gotten every impression that this part was ninety-nine percent his. He just had to not screw up during this audition, and it would be done. This was it. The moment he’d been waiting for as long as he could remember. He took a deep breath and nodded at Kenzie. She winked, all confidence.
“Ready, guys?” Angie, the director, asked as she leaned back in her chair and set her reading glasses on top of her sharp-edged black bob.
“Yep,” Kenzie said. “Ready, Jas?”
“Ready.” He rolled his shoulders, getting into character. This was just another stage. He didn’t need to freak out about it.
“Start at the beginning of the office scene,” Angie said.
Kenzie started the scene, delivering everything with a flat tone and life-is-exhausting expression. Aurora Boring in every mannerism, every word. The sight eased some of Jasper’s nerves. He and Kenzie had done these two characters so many times when they were performing sketch along with the improv that it felt like visiting old friends. He waited for his cue and then walked into the scene, saying his lines and slipping into the overenthusiastic role.
The two of them went on for a few minutes, and he and Kenzie fell into a well-worn rhythm. He could anticipate her choices, play off them. Kenzie had been right. They were bad in a relationship, but onstage, they had the dance down. Symbiotic in the way that only came from years of improv together.
“Stop,” Angie said, the word clipped.
Jasper startled, having forgotten there were two other people watching. He turned to the director. Angie had her hand lifted and her eyes on the pages in front of her, the reading glasses back on her nose. She glanced up and met his gaze. “Jasper, can you stay on script?”
He blinked and cleared his throat. “Uh, sure. I thought I had. I’m sorry.”
The director frowned. “Your lines were on script, but you’re improvising a lot of the stage directions. I know you both have improv backgrounds, but we really want to keep this pretty tight to script.”
He stiffened. No improvising. That was like telling him not to breathe. But he understood. If they were on a tight production schedule, he couldn’t do a scene ten different ways and expect them to take the time to cut all of that together in a cohesive way. “Right. Sorry. Got it.”
Kenzie gave him a look. He recognized that one from their time dating. It was the don’t-fuck-this-up look. He nodded at her. I’ve got this.
“Start again from the top,” Angie said.
Kenzie began the scene again, and Jasper gave it everything he had, sticking to the script like glue. By the time they’d made their way through the scene, his blood was pumping and he almost felt high. Kenzie delivered the last line and then grinned wide at him.
They both looked over at the people in charge.
“Thank you. Give us a few minutes,” Phil, the producer, said, and then leaned toward Angie to confer.
Jasper followed Kenzie out into the hallway. As soon as the door shut behind them, Kenzie rushed to Jasper, threw her arms around him, and gave him a smacking kiss. He was too stunned at the contact to respond. She pressed her hands to his face, squeezing. “Oh my God. You nailed it! We just nailed it. This is going to happen!”