Page 52 of A Certain Appeal
“There are,” says Ming. “And some other places pay a flat rate for performers, like Meryton, though no one else pays as well. For the majority of shows, what you make depends on audience turnout. I’vehauled myself to Queens for a crowd smaller than the performance roster. I made less than my cab fare home.”
“Ugh.” Chloe’s nose wrinkles. “That sucks.”
“That’s the hustle, baby. Unfortunately, that means spreading yourself all over the city.” She gets back to the pins. “What do you have in mind, Kitten?”
“I don’t know. But I feel like we’re a wasted resource. Think about it: You’re the most well-connected person in the scene. Everyone loves you—you could parlay that into some kind of managerial role, maybe? Or scouting new talent?”
Ming nods approvingly. “I do know the craft.”
“It’s worth thinking about. Something to give everyone more ownership. A way”—I think back to the office at Pemberley—“to take care of our own.”
On the phone screen, Chloe nods, then frowns, turning slightly from the camera. “Gales?” she calls. The deep voice of her fiancé replies with something I can’t make out before he fills the open doorway behind her.
Ming gasps as he approaches Chloe at the vanity. “Who is this thicc boi gracing the family exchange?”
Gales peers into the camera, confused, but Chloe pulls him in for a smooch on the cheek.
“Mine,” she says. “And home early.”
“That’s our cue,” I tell Ming. “Their schedules are brutal. They barely get to see one another.”
“Aw, they’re gonna do it,” Ming coos. Gales’s blue eyes threaten to bug out of his skull.
Chloe’s laughter explodes from the phone. “Ming, I swear to God, when I get to New York, we’re gonna be best friends.”
“You’d be lucky to have me,” Ming calls, and waves her goodbye.
“Hi and bye, Gales! We’ll see you guys soon,” I say, and tap the icon to end the chat.
We’re quiet for a few minutes as Ming wraps up her pinning, the only sound the murmur of Jane’s call in the other room punctuated by his bright laughter.
I think about that last turn in the conversation. The idea of taking care of my own, whatever that could mean, feels like an extension of designing for Meryton. When I first learned about the sale, sketching for the venue felt like a way to give back to the place. But it’s not just the place, it’s the people.Mypeople. No matter the outcome of the sale, I want something stable for them.
Ming stands. “You’re set. Change out of that and we’ll make a decision about the cups after I take it in, n’kay, my little eraser smuggler?”
The allusion gets me thinking about Darcy’s hands again. I didn’t pay much attention to his fingers while we danced; I was too absorbed in how they felt. I imagine they’re nimble and could make short work of these buttons...
Ming cackles. “Goodlord, there you go again!”
CHAPTER
15
I pull myself up on the hold and the rope goes slack in front of me. I wait for Jane to pull my line taut, but it stays limp. The hand gripping the hot-pink skull-shaped hold starts to cramp, the muscles in my palm throbbing. “Take?” I call.
Nothing.
A higher foot placement lets me hook my elbow over the hold, and my fingers tingle with relief. I shake out my hand and peek over my shoulder to where Jane stands below me. His eyes are unfocused, hands slack on the rope that links us. I’m high enough on the wall to do some damage if he doesn’t catch me.
“Jane, I can switch to an auto belay if you’d rather.”
He blinks, shaking his head as he comes back to reality. “I’m sorry!” He feeds the line back quickly, taking up the slack so much myharness yanks at my thighs. I curl my arm more tightly around the hold to lessen the tug on my legs.
Jane sighs. “I’m sorry. It’s—”
“I know,” I assure him. “Just don’t let me splat.”
“I’m all yours.”
