Page 33 of Marlowe Banks, Redesigned
Marlowe took it and jammed it into a skirt pocket. “Am I that obvious?”
“You’re that human.” Cherry sat down beside Marlowe. “Look, I get it. I’ve wanted to reach out to my ex, too. But our relationship ended for good reason. So did yours. If having a boyfriend is important to you, find someone new. Someone better.”
Marlowe chewed on that thought as Kelvin’s parting words rang in her ears for the thousandth time.You’ll never find someone else as good as me.She hated that she still gave that statement any credence at all, but thus far, she couldn’t prove it wrong.
“I can’t bear Tinder.” She slumped forward, dropping her head in her hands. “I can’t start a relationship knowing a guy met me because he swept a thumb over my face.”
“What about speed dating?”
“What about a nunnery?”
“You can’t join a nunnery. Too much polyester and zero waist definition.” Cherry laughed a little. Marlowe tried to join in but she couldn’t quite manage it.
“Maybe I should adopt a kitten,” she muttered into her hands. “Get a head start on the crazy-cat-lady thing. Though I should probably ensure I have an income before I accumulate dependents. I don’t even know what I’m doing after the season wraps.”
“There, I might be able to help.” Cherry fixed something on Marlowe’s collar, patting down the point and lining up the edges, gifted as always in bringing order to chaos. “Let me talk to Babs. See if she’ll bring you with us on our next project. It’s a film setin a girls’ rock camp. A nerdy group of underdog tweens learns the power of punk. Should be cool.Ifyou can deal with Babs for another six months.”
Marlowe sat up a bit straighter, grateful for a solution tooneof her problems.
“Would Babs deal with me?” she asked. “Even after the waitress stuff? The time I’m taking off from wardrobe and the… whatever with Angus?”
Cherry fluttered her fingertips together like an evil villain.
“I have my ways,” she said. “I may never convince Babs to recommend me for my own design job, but she trusts my judgment. Besides, she’ll cool off about Angus once shooting stops and we’re doing wrap. She knows how hard you work. You also make smart choices, you’re super efficient, and you know this show almost as well as she and I do. She basically gets a second assistant at a PA rate. So if you’re staying in L.A.…”
Marlowe looked eastward, or what she hoped was eastward, past the palm trees, the full parking lot, and the low, tiled roofs. Past the smoggy night sky. She thought of her friends, and her theater work, and a city where no one cared if she drank seltzer in the morning or if she had as much muscle definition as a baked potato. She thought of the script waiting on her laptop, and the possibility of walking into a theater again. Then she thought about all the ways she still felt like a failure. After all, she was stupid enough to lust after an unavailable TV star. It was not a sign of brilliance.
“Thanks,” she said to Cherry. “Getting me work on that film would be great.”
Chapter Fourteen
Bright morning light streaked through the vacant spots in Marlowe’s busted metal blinds. With a grumpy moan, she dragged her phone off the nightstand and squinted at the time. Nine twenty-threeA.M.,the latest she’d slept in months. Her head ached and her mouth felt like a hedgehog had climbed in and died there. The slightest movement also launched waves of nausea. She’d forgotten about the misery of hangovers since her social life had diminished to virtual nonexistence. Still, a night out was worth a little discomfort, except for those last ten minutes or so.That, she could do without repeating.
Wiping sleep from her eyes, she hauled herself up and checked her messages.
Dad: Cancer Prevention Foundation Gala next month. Want to come?
Babs: New scenes added. Need you to work today
Babs: Yes, I know it’s your day off
Babs: The girl who replaced you yesterday was excellent
Babs: LMK if you’re no longer interested in your position
Babs: Otherwise meet at HQ ASAP
Babs: Wear comfortable shoes
Babs: Never mind. You always do
Cherry: Have you heard from Babs? I’m heading in now. Take some Advil. Drink lots of water. EAT SOMETHING YOU SKINNY BITCH! Hugs. See you soon
Mom: 18 miles this morning! Feeling great. Are you still running?
Chloe: OMG!!!!! We’re dying here. Call immediately!!!!!!!
Following Chloe’s punctuation explosion was a link to a gossip site calledStar Spotting, which was well known for posting unauthorized photos of celebrities going about their business at stores or on vacations. The site particularly liked pointing out cellulite or belly fat on anyone in a bathing suit. Marlowe supposed this was intended to make people who didn’t have perfect bodies feel better, but really it perpetuated the idea that all bodies were targets for judgment. It was gross. It was also insanely popular.
