Page 104 of The Cul-de-Sac War

“That’s right!” Evie said on the other side of the curtain, and Bree jumped. “You are a fierce tap-dancing warrior.”

Bree smiled slightly as she picked up the soap.

“You will take no prisoners today.”

“Okeydokey,” Bree said, lifting her chin and calling over the curtain.

“The stage will be full of those slain by the might of your steely heels.”

“Allllrighty—”

“The blood of—”

Bree pushed the curtain open halfway. “Thank you, Evie. I’m tremendously inspired.”

Ten minutes later Bree toweled her dripping hair as she slipped back into her room, tightening her robe around her waist. She checked Chip’s window before ravaging her drawers to find the proper audition attire. She returned to the bathroom.

Two minutes later she wandered back in to find a better pair of tights. Ticked her eyes to the window. No new sign.

Walked out.

Came back for the hair dryer. Checked the window.

Walked out.

Came back on the premise of wanting her phone to keep an eye on the time, realized she was holding it, checked the window. Walked out.

With hair half blow-dried she rushed to the bedroom and peeked inside, just to see if—

And there it was.

Her stomach flipped to see the new note.

MEET ME AFTER YOUR AUDITION AND MY BID, NO MATTER HOW IT GOES?

Bree pursed her lips to keep the smile at bay.

WHERE?

She threw the old sheet on the ground and taped the new one to the window. After thirty minutes of checking and rechecking, a final spritz of hair spray, and a smoothing of her bun, she dashed into the room one more time to grab her duffel bag and tap shoes.

She slowed as she stepped closer to the window.

Bree’s eyes danced around his room to see if he was still there, then moved back to the sign and let herself fully grin.

WHERE ELSE? HOW ABOUT WHERE WE FIRST MET

She checked her phone. She had about six minutes to get down to the Barter, but she wasn’t about to miss this reply. Hastily she scribbled on the sheet of paper, ripped it off the pad, and pushed it to the window.

DEAL

She had never been so nervous in her life.

At the bottom of the stairs, Evie gruffly shoved a plate of donuts at Bree.

“Here. Take these to Stephen.” Bree looked down at the plate and Evie avoided Bree’s eyes. “Everyone knows he gets grumpy at these auditions. He’ll need more than a double shot of Zazzy’Z espresso for breakfast.”

Bree hesitated, then pushed the plate back. “I’m not going to bribe him with donuts, Evie. Even if it would probably work with your magical elixir.”