Page 15 of Acting Merry
I glance at the caption. It’s mostly emojis: a heart, then @, then the number 1, then two eyes.
It’s the most childish caption, but it makes me swallow.Love at first sight.
I know exactly whenfirst sighthappened for Brady and Megan—at Hannah and Tyler’s wedding. It’s the same nightfirst sighthappened for Brady and me. Megan was at the reception with a date, but I was there alone.
My stomach swims, and my cheeks burn.
Having Brady break up with me seemingly out of nowhere made the ground beneath my feet feel shaky and unsure for weeks. Wondering if I was his second choice the whole time?
The roiling waves of nausea in my stomach give way to a tsunami of anger, drowning the hurt with sheer force.
I swipe out of Instagram and pull up my thread with Cole.
Reese
2 o’clock. Bring your swimsuit.
His only response is a sly-faced emoji.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Cole’s carpulls up to the house the next day at three minutes after two.
I almost suggested we spend some time together yesterday to get to know each other, but since I told Hannah things with him were new—bless my wise heart—I think we can cover the basics in the hour-long car ride to Snoqualmie.
I grab a bag of the goodies I promised Hannah I’d bring to the cabin, then lock the door behind me. When I turn around, Cole is jogging up.
His green and white patterned wool sweater is perfect for the party, but it’s at odds with the clear, sunny skies the day has unexpectedly graced the Seattle area with.
“What’re you doing?” I ask.
He reaches for the bag. “Picking up my date.”
“We’re not on stage yet, Romeo.” I let him take the bag anyway.
He slings his arm around my shoulders and guides us toward the car. “I’m more of a method actor.”
“Huh,” I say. “I’d figured you as more of the shows-up-late-to-the-shoot-and-hasn’t-read-the-script kind of actor.”
“I’m also that type of actor.”
I reach for the handle, but he gently swats my hand away and opens the door for me while I give him a flat look.
He just smiles. “Start as you mean to go on, right?”
I bat my eyelashes and give a sugary sweet smile. “Thank you, honey.”
He tips his head from side to side. “A tad overdone, but we’ll work on it.”
I get into the passenger seat, and Cole takes the bag to the trunk, then gets situated in the driver seat.
Last night, I broke the news to the girls that Cole and I could only come for the evening. All three of them went through each stage of grief on the text thread. Megan, in particular, was determined to find a way for us to stay. I get the sense she’s thrilled that I have someone so I don’t have to be pining over Brady or hating her—neither of which I’m doing, to be clear.
I plug the address into Google Maps and set my phone in the holder attached to the dashboard. “Okay, we have one hour and seven minutes to get our story straight and get to know each other.”
“Plenty of time,” he says. “I already know you pretty well.”
A laugh bursts from me. “Do you, now?”
