“What were you thinking?” Christa asks me, beside herself with anger. “After all I did to convince Heidi to give you a job, you went and threw it back into her face?” She drops onto our plain IKEA living room couch. Her gaze shoots daggers at me. “You have to stop being so impulsive, Emma. You’re twenty-six, for God’s sake. When will you start holding onto a job for longer than a month?”

“When I find one that I love.” I move to the window, gazing out at the dead backyard of the small house we inherited from mom and dad.

“That’s exactly the problem with you. You refuse to understand that sometimes we have to do things we don’t love in order to pay the bills.”

“And sometimes you have to take advantage of amazing opportunities.” I move to the couch, sit next to her, and take her hand in mine. “They’re paying well. You know we could use the money.”

She glances at me for a moment and her shoulders sink. “I really appreciate what you’re trying to do for me. But, honey, the medical bills are mine. I will pay them off eventually.” She shakes her head slowly from side to side, eyes resigned. “And that acting thing is a one-time thing. You need a steady job, not because you want to pay off my bills, but for you to finally start your own life.”

“I don’t lose much by walking away from the Baroque. Heidi wasn’t paying me enough anyway.” I lift my chin. “And don’t you dare tell me not to be there for you.

You can’t stop me from helping you in any way I can. My dream is to find a job that pays me enough to clear all your debts so you can finally relax. You went through so much already. I hate to see you breaking your back in that kitchen.”

Christa presses her lips together. “You’ve already done enough to help me. You were there every single day while I was sick. And you shaved off your hair for me. What more could I possibly ask for in a sister?”

A slow smile warms up my face. “Yeah, that was kind of fun.” I drop my hand next to me. “But seriously, I want to do this acting thing. I kind of feel like it’s the right thing for me.”

“I’ve heard that one before, a few times actually.”

“Maybe this time this decision will be the one that changes everything for me...for us.” I gaze into space. “The thought of acting with—”

Christa puts up a hand to stop me. “Please don’t tell me you want to do this thing because you have a crush on Dax Pierce.”

“Nope. Well, partly. Maybe.” I shake my head. “No, I was actually playing with the idea before I saw his name on the pamphlet.” I shrug. “I don’t know, Christa. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s just that my heart tells me it’s what I have to do.” I turn my whole body to face her, our knees touching. “Let me make you a promise. If it doesn’t work out, I promise to find a steady job and stay put.”

“I’ve heard those promises before as well.”

“I mean it this time around.”

“Fine. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll beg Heidi to take you back. I’ll try to convince her to let you work at reception. The guests actually liked you.”

I draw my sister into a hug and hold on to her, inhaling her comforting scent of vanilla. “Thank you.”

We don’t talk much about the audition anymore as we eat a pizza margherita for dinner. At the end of the night, I go to bed praying I won’t let her down.

***

SOMETIMES YOU JUST have to follow your heart. As it turns out, I was among the candidates chosen to be in the film, without even having to audition.

Yesterday morning, I’d walked into the audition room, and all they asked me was whether I had any experience with waitressing, to which I responded with a resounding yes. I’d waitressed often enough in my life.

After that, they asked me simple questions about myself and my background, then they asked me to wait outside for fifteen minutes. When they called me back inside, it was to congratulate me. I don’t know if Dax Pierce told them to take me. Who cares anyway? What matters is that I got the part.

Soon after I received the good news, I was introduced to Tori Barnwell, the woman responsible for dressing up the cast. She handed me a black and white waitressing uniform to try on. After the fitting, I was paid for my time. It blew my mind that I was being paid just to try on clothes. Along with the money, I was handed the address of where the movie would be filmed, and instructed to be there at 5:00 a.m.

Even though I’m not a morning person, I appear on set half an hour before the time, sleepy but excited.

The set is crawling with cameramen, actors, extras, and directors with their assistants. Luxurious trailers belonging to the important actors are parked a small distance away from the building in which the filming was to take place. A huge marquee is positioned a few steps away from the trailers, two benches standing in front of it. A sign at the entrance alerts people that it’s the lunch tent. It doesn’t say whether only the main cast will eat inside or if it was for everyone.

I’m not sure we would be offered food even though we will be spending the entire day on set. I brought my own lunch just in case.

I find Tori, the costume lady inside the makeshift changing room—a tent. She’s fixing the hem of one of the actresses’ skirts. Her honey blond hair is held together by a pencil on the top of her head, a needle with a thread hanging from it dangles from her lips.

She is so busy that she doesn’t respond when I greet her. There are so many people vying for her attention. I’m among the lucky few who already have our costumes. I’m already dressed anyway.

Many people are walking around, most half naked as they search for their clothes on the racks.

I walk around various props and make my way out of the tent to see if I can find someone else that I know.

Adrenaline rushes through me when I spot Dax standing next to a white caravan. He looks devastatingly handsome in blue jeans and a white polo shirt. Someone is talking to him, but he doesn’t seem to be listening as his eyes land on me.

I can’t look away. Something about him drugs me. I’ve read everything about him on the internet and most of it wasn’t good. But the person I have come to know for a few seconds, the person who had encouraged me to go for this opportunity, didn’t seem so bad. I guess everyone has to make their own experiences sometimes. We can’t always judge someone based on what others think and say about them. The press is infamous for editing the truth so it suits them.

I’m afraid to approach Dax. I don’t really know him, and it might not be my place to be talking to the major actors. But before I can walk away to mingle with people at my level, he moves away from the trailer and starts to walk in my direction.

Oh God. This can’t be happening. But it is.

When he’s close enough, he stretches out a hand and I find myself accepting it. Our eyes meet. Neither of us speaks as we stand hand in hand. His grip is a little too firm, but I don’t mind.

Finally, I slide my hand from his and drop it to my side, still tingling from his touch. My mind instantly returns to the image of him back at the hotel, with water glistening on his tanned skin, faint dark hairs peeking out of the towel around his waist.

“Nice to see you again, towel girl.” His eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles. “You auditioned after all. I’m pleased to see you here.”

“Thank you for encouraging me.” My gaze sweeps the large grounds. “I’m really excited to be a part of this movie.”

“I do have to warn you that it’s going to be a very long day. Filming a movie is not as easy as many people believe.”

“Any tips you’d like to share?” I cannot believe I’m chatting with a major celebrity as though we know each other, as though we’re old friends.

“Only one.” He pushes his hands into his pockets and leans back in a relaxed manner. His gaze holds onto mine. “Just be yourself. We saw potential in you at the hotel. Now it’s time for you to show that potential to everyone else. You never know where a moment might take you.”

I don’t know what potential he’s talking about. He hasn’t seen me act. But who cares. If Dax Pierce sees potential in me, who am I to disagree?

“Thanks,” I say as butterflies come to life in my belly, snatching my breath. “Yeah. Thanks again.” I avert my gaze. I’m feeling suddenly uncomfortable. “I better go and find out what I’m supposed to do.”

“Sure. See you around.” His eyes linger on my face for a moment before I turn away.

As I distance myself from him, I can feel his gaze on my back. Dax Pierce. I will be in a movie with Dax Pierce. It feels like a dream. Miracles really do happen. I feel the urge to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.

I find the assistant director, a stocky man with a braided beard, chatting with a group of women at the entrance of the main building. He tucks a clipboard under his arm and gives me a few short instructions that make me nervous. He doesn’t really go into detail and he speaks so fast it’s hard to catch what he’s saying.

“Just be yourself,” he says, repeating the same words Dax had said to me. “Be in the moment. We’ll show you what to do before we start filming. As long as you follow instructions you’ll be fine.” He walks away to attend to more important members of the cast.

An hour goes by and I’m still not called into the building. As I wait, I sit on one of the benches outside the building, surfing the internet for tips on how to act.

“Emma Stanton,” someone finally calls my name.

“Yes.” I look up. The sun is so bright in my eyes that I shade them with my hand. It’s the assistant producer.

“We’re ready for you. Come with me.”

On our way into the building, other extras are called to follow us. The instructions are brief but clear. There’s no time to waste.

The rest of the day goes by in a blur. When lunchtime comes around, I’m ready to drop, exhausted, my arm aching from holding a silver tray with drinks on it, and from repeating the same words over and over again. “What may I offer you to drink, sir?”

Twice I had dropped the tray and the glasses had fallen to the floor. Lucky for me, even though they give the illusion of being made out of real glass, they were actually hard plastic. Nothing got broken.

Dax had been one of the men at the table I was serving. It was hard not to stare at him the entire time. When I came close to him, placing a glass in front of him, I’d caught a whiff of his manly cologne. It was hard to keep my control with him around, but I didn’t make a fool of myself.

We find a separate tent set up outside for the extras and less important members of the cast. I’m a little disappointed as we are ushered inside. I won’t get to see or speak to Dax. I sit next to Miriam Gleeson, a waitress at The Lamb. I try to bond with her over how amazing it is to be acting in a major film, but she pretends not to know me.

Could she be jealous? Unlike her, I actually had some words to say on the film. All she did was stand at the door of the restaurant, nodding as guests entered.

I ignore her and enjoy my chicken salad. I spend my time talking to people who want to talk to me. As soon as I’m done eating, I walk out of the tent to get some fresh air before the filming starts again.

I find Dax Pierce standing at the entrance of the trailer he had been in front of when we spoke earlier. He’s smoking a cigarette. The smoke swirling around him gives him an air of mystery.

This time I’m the one who gets up the courage to approach him, butterflies going wild in my stomach.

“You were great in there,” he says when I get to him. “Have you ever considered acting full-time?”

I run a hand up and down my arm, trying to hide the smile that’s creeping up on my face. “Not really, no.” I chuckle. “I did take some acting classes before and it was fun but—”

“You did? No wonder it came so easy to you.”

“You’re funny.” I laugh. “I didn’t really have to do much. Anyone can carry a tray and ask people what they want to drink.”

“Not when in front of the camera. Trust me, most people freeze when asked to act out the simplest roles.”

My throat feels dry and I can barely swallow as I respond. “You told me to be myself. That’s what I did.” Feeling as though someone is watching me, I take a glance over my shoulder and notice Dax’s manager in the distance, observing us. I take a step back. “I should go and see what I need to do next.”

“Of course. Good luck.”

As I leave him behind, he calls my name again. Dax Pierce saying my name. Now that’s huge. Emma sounds special coming from his lips.

I spin around to face him. I’m on the verge of fainting from the rush of being so close to him. “Yes?” I whisper.

“I meant it. Your potential really showed through. If you ever decide to pursue acting in Hollywood, give me a call.” He pulls out a business card from his pocket, holding it between his forefinger and thumb. “I’d be happy to introduce you to some important people.”

I walk back to him and reach for the card, my hands trembling “Really?”

Any attempt to be professional goes out the window as I gawk at him like a fool.

“I think it would be a shame to let your talent go to waste. Think about it.”

“Thank you.” I gaze at the business card, taking in his name in golden lettering.

“I’m shooting a new movie in a year. You could try auditioning for a part in it as well. If you don’t feel confident enough, you could always take some classes to prepare for more serious acting roles.”

“I don’t know what to say.” My smile widens.

“Say you’ll take the chance.” He tosses down his cigarette, grinding it into the ground with the tip of his shoe. “You never know.”

“I have to say it’s very tempting, but I don’t . . . Moving to a different town without a job or a place to stay sounds scary.” I shrug. “I don’t even know anyone in Hollywood.”

“That’s not true. You know me.” He leans against the trailer, eyes hooded. “It’s a good thing to have someone to shield you from the dark side of the movie industry.”

I tilt my head to one side. He’s definitely flirting with me and I don’t want it to end. “If I choose to go to Hollywood, I’m sure I’ll be able to handle it alone.”

“Bullshit.” His sharp tone and sudden dark expression make me flinch inwardly, but an apologetic smile quickly softens his face again. “Sorry about that. I tend to be too direct sometimes.” He drags a hand down one cheek. “Just call me when you get to Hollywood.”

“If I come to Hollywood.” I’m still baffled by his earlier reaction, but I tuck my emotions away into a corner of my mind and return his smile. “I haven’t made a decision yet.”

“Wrong.” He pulls out his phone and switches it on. “Your eyes tell me you already have. See you in Hollywood, Emma Stanton.” He walks away then, the phone pressed to his ear.

Hours after our conversation, I make a decision. Dax was right.