Page 54 of Play Room Actor

They had the same hair color and slim build, and they shared the same nose. Unlike Kilian, whose eyes were pitch black, hers were two hazel ones. It was so sweet seeing how much Yaël cared for her little brother; she probably wouldn’t have brought him the wallet he’d left at their parents’ house if she didn’t.

“So?” Yaël asked, her elbows propped on the table. “How did you two meet?” We were sitting in the lounge on the theater terrace, eating Lebanese takeout that his sister had brought.

Kilian rolled his eyes and laced his fingers behind his head as he leaned back in his chair.

I snickered and took a sip of iced tea, with no intention of answering her.

“Oh, come on!” Yaël slumped in her seat, arms folded. “I mean … you call me an hour before and ask me to shop for three people. I should be allowed to know a few details.”

“He forgot his wallet?” I asked, glancing at Kilian’s wallet, which lay beside the pita bread. I turned to Kilian. “Tell me, do you do this on purpose?”

Yaël laughed, and I couldn’t help but hear the similarity between her laughter and Kilian’s. Not only in their features, but also in the sound of it. Yaël tossed her long, dark brown hair over her shoulder and sat up straighter.

As much as I enjoyed our conversation, lunch was over quicker than I’d expected, and we said goodbye to Yaël. Seeing the two of them kiss each other on the cheek and hug brought a smile to my face.

I didn’t have siblings myself and certainly hadn’t grown up as sheltered as they had—which was likely a part of the reason for my downfall.

For a long time, I had mourned the lack of a stable family while looking for a replacement. The chemsex parties had become my drug, a place where I got something that was still far from what I’d been searching for in my foster home.

Yes, I was wary, and it took a long time for me to trust or get close to someone. But I knew right from wrong and could recognize self-destruction when I saw it. The thing with Gian had opened my eyes and given me the courage to seek help. Nico had been there and helped me out of the darkest hole.

“Come on,” Kilian said, guiding me up the stairs to the control room.

“You don’t need to drag me like a cop,” I said, holding my hands up in jest. “I’d come with you anyway.”

But he didn’t hear me and opened the door, forcing me into the dark room. “We have five minutes left before Theo sends a search party.” Kilian’s lips pressed against mine, and I slid my hand into his neck, my tongue in his mouth. Kilian bit my lower lip and stretched it.

“We’ll do something together on Friday.”

“I have to work at Red,” I said breathlessly. “Ronny’s on vacation.”

“Forget about Ronny.”

“Sorry. It’s not possible.”

We laughed, but I could see the disappointment in Kilian’s face.

“Then I’ll think of something,” he said and kissed me again.

At that moment, the walkie-talkie crackled, and Theo’s voice echoed through the room.

“Where’s Kilian?”

“Oh, man, he’s too early,” Kilian groaned, rolling his eyes.

I stroked his cheek and smiled. “I have rehearsal anyway.”

Kilian reluctantly nodded and stepped aside to let me pass. At the door, I turned back to him. “Your sister is nice. I think she likes me.”

“She loves you, babe. Ever since she saw your Hamlet performance on Instagram at the Piadina Bar, she’s a fan of yours.”

“Is that good?”

“Why? Would you rather have her than me?”

“I’m not into older women,” I said, winking at Kilian, before leaving the control room.

The week was too crazy, and there was too much going on at the theater for us to have another chance to meet. When I finished rehearsal on Thursday, I took a quick look into the hall on my way out.