Theo

Making deals with the devil

 

Auditions went exactly as expected. And Birdie and I were on the same page with who we were casting in our principle crew.

Except for one itty-bitt disagreement over who will play the part of Chester.

“I think Marlon would be fantastic in that role,” Birdie argues, biting on the edge of her pencil as she leans over the list. “He’s just got that “thing” you know?”

I harrumph. “Yeah, but he’s too young to play the part. Chester is supposed to be more mature. Worldly. That’s why he’s such a curmudgeon.”

My argument falls on deaf ears.

“Yet you want to cast him in the role of Henry. Who is supposed to be seventy? Yeah, that’s not a contradiction.”

She shakes her head, clearly frustrated with my logic.

I need to offer up a concession if I want to win this battle and cast myself in the role. I don’t want to steamroll her and pull the “I’m the director” car, because that’s not how I work. Plus, she is the casting director and does have a good eye for talent.

Which is exactly why she immediately cast Joey as the female lead.

“Okay, how about this? I know we haven’t really talked about it, but I want to play the part of Chester.”

She stops me immediately, shaking her head emphatically. “No way.”

“Yes way,” I contest, because this is how it’s going to be. “I’ll play Chester, Joey will be Silvia and Marlon can play Henry.”

Birdie rolls her eyes in defiance. “Why did I have a feeling this was going to happen? Do you know how many playwrights I’ve seen try to act out their own characters, only to fuck it up? Come on, Theo. You’re smarter than that.”

I wave her off because that’s just ridiculousness. I can handle the role, along with directing. It may cause a few challenges, but I’m up for it.

“I’ve already spoken to Niles and he’s okay with it. So, let’s move forward with what I’ve outlined. And if you don’t think it’s working by the first week, then we’ll revisit. Agreed?”

I hold out my hand for her to shake on it and she takes it reluctantly. Her points may be valid based on what she’s seen in the past, but I don’t think I’m like most playwrights. I’m not a dictator and I’m not an asshole. My behavior isn’t that of a know-it-all director and I’m good at listening. With the exception of this particular point, of course.

Plus, I just think Joey and I have really great chemistry and will be the perfect match for my lead characters.

Selfishly, it also means I’ll have a chance to spend more one on one time with Joey. Which means more scripted kissing. Which I hope will lead to unscripted kissing. Leading to getting her naked. And into her bed.

That is, if I can keep her away from Marlon.

An unbidden anger rushes through me as I think about the conversation I overheard between them today as we finished up the class. He’d asked Joey out for dinner and drinks tonight, which I was unable to thwart because of my scheduled casting meeting with Birdie.

All I could do was ball my hands into fists as I watched them walk out together. Joey did have the decency to look guilty when she glanced over her shoulder as I held the door open for them when they walked out of the building. I winced and gave her a tight smile when she waved her goodbye.

I don’t know how long I can hold back. She’s the first woman I’ve had any feelings for since my break-up with Alyssa. Maybe I’m different than most other guys out there. I didn’t just go out and fuck away my blues with any willing woman. That’s not me.

I’ve always enjoyed being in a relationship. Taking care of someone and vice versa. I like the predictability of Netflix and chill nights with a significant other. The comfort of sleeping next to a lover, whom you know will still be around in the morning when you wake.

God, I’m such a pussy.

I’ve apparently not learned my lessons from the “alpha dog” incident with Woody. That’s what Joey called it. Which means she thinks I’m a pussy, too.

I just fear that if I push things, she’s going to retreat. Maybe I’m wrong. All I know is that I feel the connection between us and there’s something that holds her back, but I don’t know if it’s me or something in her past or if there’s someone else she’s interested in.

Like fucking Marlon.

I can’t hate the guy. He’s a decent guy and he had the balls to ask her out.

“Okay, we’ll do it your way. I can live with that. But please don’t make the rookie mistake of falling for your lead lady. She’s not the only one who can satisfy your needs.”

My head jerks up from the pages laid out in front of me to find that Birdie has moved about six inches closer, her arms squishing her cleavage together as she leans into me. I can smell her popular brand of perfume and I cough.

Oh shit. This can’t be good.

“Uh, Birdie…”

Her long fingers reach out to caress my knuckles. “Theo, you know how I feel about you. I want you to fuck me. Right here. Right now.”

I sit statue straight, trying not to make any sudden moves as she draws the straps of her blouse down over her shoulder so that the tops of her breasts peak out. Then she puckers her lips and closes her eyes, waiting for me to kiss her.

We’ve been through this before. While Birdie is a beautiful woman, and an impeccable actress with plenty to her portfolio, she isn’t the one for me. Plus, she stands two inches taller. She’s like an Amazon woman. Nothing wrong with tall women, but I’d be afraid she’d accidentally kill me in bed when she wraps her crazy long legs around me.

I gently push her shoulders back as her eyes pop open. The flash of blue goes from a lusty-hue to a deep oceanic wave. Confusion. Anger. Bitterness.

“What the fuck, Theo? Maybe the rumors are true. Maybe you do bat for the other team.”

Wait, what?

“People think I’m gay? What the hell?”

She just shrugs. Maybe she’s saying that as a defense mechanism. Lashing out to hurt me because I unintentionally hurt her.

I try to repair the damage the sting of my rejection may have caused.

“Birdie, come on. I like you. You know I do. We have a great history and working relationship. I think we’ve made a good team. But that doesn’t mean I want to fuck around. You’re great, but we need those boundaries in place. At least until the play is done. Then we can see…”

Okay, that may be a little misleading and dishonest, but I need to save face. That’s the last thing I need over the next four weeks is a scorned co-director. I don’t want any animosity between us during this production. Everything has to go smoothly. I need this production as a foray into bigger and better things.

Hopefully Broadway someday.

Her expression begins to soften as the tightness between her eyes and around her mouth smooths out. That’s when I see the beginnings of a small, calculated smile forming in the corners of her lips.

I may have just made a deal with the devil.

Her voice is laced with sex and candy. “Okay, Theo. I can live with that. For now. But just know that at any point, if you need to let off steam, I’m open and available.”

She runs a tapered fingernail across my collarbone and then stands and walks off, taking her notes, her large endowments and script with her.

I fear I may have dodged a bullet tonight, but it may come back to bite me in the butt later.