Page 37 of You Spin Me

There’s a shift in her voice, a new color, making me want to see her face, see the shy smile that my words painted there. Before I can venture into that territory, she jumps back into her diva character.

“To answer your question, opening is the next weekend and then it runs for five weekends. Six, if they decide to extend. Everyone will have plenty of chances to come up and see it.”

“And I’m sure all of Boston is eager to do so,” I finish in my best fake DJ voice.”

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Her voice is back to the Jessica I know and love, and the whole thing puts a smile on my face. “It was definitely better than what I did last week. Thanks for the interview practice.”

“You can interview me anytime. I’ll be even meaner next time.”

“I’ll prepare myself. Talk to you tomorrow?”

“Definitely. Good night, Cal.”

“Good night, princess.”

JESS

By the time I get home Thursday night, I barely have the energy to make it up the stairs to my apartment. I haven’t done much physically today, but emotionally I’ve been wrung out and left to dry too many times to count. The drive home gave me time to relive the humiliation and second-guess everything.

I need to call Cal so he won’t start playing Jessica songs, but I don’t have it in me to practice interviews with him tonight. I’m so tired I couldn’t play another character right now if my life depended on it. I’ll let him know I’m home safe and that I need to get to bed. One nice development: my brother came by this morning and gave me his old cordless phone. Not the VCR I’d hoped for, but beggars can’t be choosers. Anyway, the new phone means I can talk to Cal while snuggled in bed instead of having to be tethered to the ancient wall phone in my kitchen, so I get ready for bed before calling. By the time Cal picks up, I’m half asleep.

“Everything okay? You sound like somebody stole your sparkle, princess.”

“You could say that,” I say over a barely suppressed yawn. “Sorry, but I don’t think I can be a tough interview for you right now. I can barely keep my eyes open.”

“I’ll let you off the hook tonight, though I did come up with some good questions.”

“I’m sorry. Maybe tomorrow.”

“Did something happen at rehearsal?”

“Well, I did kind of have a breakdown. Or maybe a breakthrough? I’m not sure.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“I don’t know. It was embarrassing enough when it happened.” Just thinking about it has my face heating up and my throat tightening. “But…”

“If you want, I’ll just sit here with you. Speaking of phones, Talia got me a new headset so I don’t have to put you on hold. I’ll have you in one ear and what I’m playing in the other and my hands can be free. Let me put it on…” After a couple of clicks, he’s back. “Can you hear me?”

“Hmm. You sound different. Closer.”

“Hold on one sec.” He goes on to announce some concert happening over the weekend and then introduce a song by the same band.

There’s a click, and then he’s back to me. “Pretty cool, huh?”

“That is cool. I feel like I’m sitting right next to you while you work.”

“Yep. I can talk to you and still keep everything in order.” He blows out a breath. “And I’m listening if you want to tell me what happened.”

Maybe it’d help if I talk it through with him. “Well, tonight’s rehearsal was either the worst or the best I’ve ever had. All I know is that it was painful.”

“You didn’t actually hurt yourself, did you?”

“Well, my ego took a sound beating.”

“I know what that feels like.”

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