Page 80 of The Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose
Jonah rolled onto his side and kissed Dexter’s cheek. “Maybe tomorrow you don’t get up at the crack of dawn to go for a run, and you can stay in bed with me until we absolutely have to get up?”
“It’s already past five,” Dexter said, stifling a yawn.
“What? Seriously?”
“It was about four when I walked round here. So, definitely gone five by now.”
“Why didn’t you wait until morning to talk to me?” Jonah asked with a laugh. “I wasn’t going anywhere.”
“Because I lay wide awake in bed knowing I needed to see you and that I wouldn’t be able to rest until I saw you. And, like I said, it was totally worth it. I regret nothing.” He covered his hand with his mouth as he yawned. “I don’t want you to think I’m rude by immediately going to sleep after sex.”
“It’s good to know I’ve worn you out.”
“Well, it wasn’t just you, though, was it? We did two shows yesterday, then I stayed awake until coming here, so don’t big yourself up too much.”
Jonah rolled his eyes and rested his head on the pillow. “Thank you, as always, for keeping me humble.”
“You can always count on me, babe.”
Thirty-Two
“The sun rises.”
—“To Troy,”The Wooden Horse, Act One
Colbie loomed in Evie’s office, her hands flying over the keyboard on her laptop, eyes burning. Her red hair fell over her face, and if Jonah squinted his eyes, she looked like her head was made of flames, angry, always angry. He knocked on the door frame and her head snapped up toward him, unlit cigarette between her lips, and she pointed to the chair opposite her desk.
“Sit,” she instructed, and Jonah hesitated, not wanting to take orders from her as if he were a dog, but he did as she said and sat awkwardly as she placed her cigarette down next to her laptop.
“Why the hell have I had your manager on the phone to me this morning informing me you will not be renewing your contract for another year?” Colbie asked, placing her hands flat on the wood of her desk and leaning forward to peer at him from behind wisps of red hair. “Don’t you think this is something we should have been discussing ourselves? If you had talked to me, you would know we have planned to keep you on here for as long as possible.”
He knew her words weren’t fully honest; they only came from losing Bastien and Dexter, and now losing Jonah as well. Principal roles were often changed from year to year, it wasn’t unusual to have an entirely new cast for a new season, but she was losing three powerhouses all in one fell swoop and it wasn’t her choice to get rid of them.
“I thought it best to let Melanie deal with it, as she handles my contracts,” Jonah said. “It’s time for me to move on.”
“You’re making a huge mistake,” she said, tapping her long fingernails against the desk. “This role is what’s put your name on the map. You were nothing before coming here.”
“Well, I know that’s not true,” he said, and noticed just how calm he felt talking with her. “I can’t deny this role has been amazing for me, but to say I was nothing is a bit of a low blow, Colbie.”
“You can’t be going on to be doing something bigger than this. You’re first billed, Jonah, it’s your face on the promotional material, your name people recognize. I know what shows have been casting, and I know what shows are going to be opening. The only thing worth your time would have beenCrazy for You, but we both know Dexter landed that.” She couldn’t have known aboutCabaret; her comment only solidified that. Julianna kept the show on a strictly need-to-know basis, wanting to make the announcement as spectacular as possible.
“I’m not sure what the point you’re trying to make here is?”
“I’m basically saying you’re taking a step backward. Why do you want to leave for something that will no doubt only make you fade into the background?”
Jonah ran his tongue along his teeth as he thought of what to say. He didn’t want to burn bridges with her, but at the same time, working with Colbie Paris again wasn’t on his list of things to ever do again.
“I’ve not been happy with the way I’ve been treated here.”
Colbie’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “What do you mean? Who’s treated you badly?”
“You surely can’t be that oblivious, Colbie.”
She cocked her head slightly and rested against the back of her chair. “You’ve been unhappy with the wayI’vetreated you? I’m sorry, Jonah, but I fail to see how anything I’ve ever done could be seen as mistreatment. I’m barely here.”
“My dad died, and you called me repeatedly to tell me how me being off from the show was an inconvenience. You’ve constantly made me feellike I’m not good enough to be here. You told me I had to help ticket sales by forging a fake friendship with someone and tried to control my personal social media accounts. You’re unprofessional, Colbie, and I don’t want to work in this environment anymore.”
Colbie’s mouth twisted, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m running a business here, Jonah. I need to know when my cast is going to be at work. I don’t think calling you to ask that is unreasonable.”
