Page 10 of Paths Crossing, Episode Four: Ash & Audrey
"You're auditioning for Chicago?" he asked. He pulled back and regarded me with newfound interest.
"It's my first audition ever, but yes."
"Ooh, a fresh one," he said, rubbing his hands together with a mischievous grin. Collin was a good-looking guy. He had straight white teeth and a winning smile. I didn't think he was flirting with me, but something about the way he looked at me made me feel like he was noticing me. Maybe it was just like a director notices an actor, but he was intrigued enough that I said, "My daughter just started kindergarten, so it'll be a while before she makes it here, but I will try to get her into this school. It's in our district, if we don't move by then."
I clamped my mouth shut.School districts?Really, Audrey?I wanted to be upfront about Luna, but I forgot for a second that he was going to be judging me and deciding whether or not I was in the show.
"I met James on the set of a miniseries that was filmed at Deer Lodge," I added.
James came back inside just as I was saying that, and Collin glanced at him for a second before looking at me again with a big smile.
"I heard all about that series," he said. "I'm friends with some people who worked out there—extras and crew. I was tied up in New York with a production there, or I would have come back and been a part of it." He glanced up at James. "I didn't know James worked on that."
"On what?" James asked.
"Alex's project at Deer Lodge," I said.
"Oh, yeah, that's where I met Audrey."
Collin stood to take his bag, and he looked at me. "Audrey, huh? I didn't get your name before."
"Audrey Wells," I said.
"Audrey owns The Poached Egg restaurant."
"No kidding, I ate there this morning!" Collin said, staring at me in amazement. "You own it?"
"And I cook there, yes," I said, nodding.
"Do you poach the eggs?"
"Yes… in my sleep."
He looked me over, nodding and smiling. "That's a really cool place," he said. "My breakfast was delicious, and I like the vibe in there a lot. I was thinking I wanted to be friends with the people who own it."
"Here's your chance," I said, shrugging innocently and causing him to laugh.
"Thank you for this," he said to James, gesturing to the bag. "And it was nice meeting you, Audrey Wells. I can't wait to see your audition."
"Me too," I said, smiling stiffly when I realized that wasn't the best thing to say. "It was nice meeting you, too," I added.
He took off walking toward the auditorium with his bag over his shoulder. James turned to me with wide eyes once he had walked away.
"Well, I guess you got to meet Collin," he said quietly enough that Collin didn't hear him.
I smiled and shrugged. "He was nice," I said.
"You're definitely going to make the show," he said, nodding with a grin.
It was a couple of hours later when I got a text from Ash Adams. We had each other's numbers, but neither of us had made contact in months.
It was 10pm, and Luna was already bathed, read to, and in tucked in. I had to be at work early, and I was tired and about to go to bed. I was surprised to see his name on my screen, and I opened it quickly, reading his text.
Ash:
Good seeing you today. I was curious about how your audition went.
I typed back.
