Page 41 of You Spin Me

“That’s not the point.” As he paces back and forth, his words gain speed. “I mean, of course I’m not happy you made a mistake, but it might be what you need right now. You didn’t even say anything censors would’ve dinged us on. This is it, Cal. You don’t have to go all shock jock. Instead, we go the other direction. We get the girls—all the girls—with this.” He pops a cassette into the player on the table. “Listen to the promo we cut.”

I couldn’t tell you what I actually said to Jess on the phone last night. All I wanted was for her to feel comforted, to know she’s perfect as she is. In any case, I’m not taking advantage of her, so I press the stop button. “No.”

“Cal, you—”

“No, Jones. I don’t want this used like… Anyway, she’s an actress.”

“So what?”

“She probably has an agent or something you’ll have to deal with. You’d have to sign a contract.”

“So we’ll sign one.”

“I don’t want you to use it.” I shove my hands in my armpits. “It’s weird.”

“Shit.” His finger finally moves from the play button. “Are you seeing this girl?

Thankfully, a sharp laugh barks out from my chest, masking everything I feel about her. “Oh yeah, I’m dating an actress. Me. Have you even met me?”

“Has she?”

Suddenly my skull feels like it weighs a thousand pounds. Eyes on the floor, I mutter, “Only over the phone.”

“Do you have a better idea? I’m not sure you get how important it is for you to pick up more market share here, Cal.”

“Let me think about it.” Grabbing my box, I push past him.

He follows me down the hall. “In the meantime, I need you to call her. We have to get permission to use her voice. Retroactively.”

“I don’t have her number.”

“What do you mean? According to Talia, you talk to her every night.”

“She always calls me. Here, at the station.”

Jones riding my tail as we pass through the lounge has Blondie jumping up from her bed in the corner. When she advances, obviously sensing my distress, he finally backs off. “Well, find her. At the very least, she’s got to come in and sign a waiver—since it already aired.”

Instead of escaping into the safety of the booth, I make myself face him. “Got it. Now can I go do my job?”

“Cal, seriously. Think about it. I’d hate for you to lose your slot.” When he reaches out to touch my arm, Blondie utters a low growl. Taking a step back instead, he says, “Don’t give me that look, man. I’m on your side.”

“Yeah, right.”

As I turn the booth’s doorknob, he clears his throat. “Hey, can you call off your dog?”

JESS

Friday night is our last chance to really work on the show—after the tech weekend, we’ll go straight into dress rehearsals and then opening—so after we do a run-through of the whole play and get notes, Miles dives back in to tweak a few things. I’m not needed for every single scene, but I have to stick around for the ones I am in.

I don’t mind watching. Miles is really good at teasing out issues and guiding actors through the process. He’s so calm and self-effacing that he manages to create a truly safe space where actors will try anything, even the ridiculous—which is what this play needs. We have to find an outrageousness that somehow makes its own brand of sense. Watching the others take chances gives me the courage to play and not worry about results when I’m called up, even though we have to have a show that delivers in days. Some things work, some don’t, but Miles makes trying anything and everything seem worthwhile.

Even so, I’m exhausted by the time Carol calls time at 9:59 p.m., so I’m planning to go right to bed as soon as I get to the actor housing.

Jack catches up with me in time to open the door leading to the parking lot. “I’m glad you’re staying this weekend.”

“Me too. I’ll see you back at the house.” Shivering, I head for my car, but then I realize that I forgot to memorize the directions. Turning to walk backward, I yell to him across the lot. “Actually, can I follow you?” Since Jack lives in Rhode Island, he’s been staying up here for the whole rehearsal period.

“Sure. I’m in the little red Toyota. I’ll wait for you by the exit.”

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