Backstage Romance: An Austen-Inspired Romantic Comedy Box Set by Gigi Blume (ebook reader with highlighter txt) 📕

I didn't have time to ask if we could chat later. I had to run. On the plus side, I got on stage in record time. If only quick changes were an Olympic sport. Bing gave me the wild eye. The one that says ‘Where the heck were you? You almost gave us all a heart attack.’ Admittedly, I barely made it through that number with a spare breath. I was used to running in chase scenes but singing long notes while out of breath is something I wouldn’t recommend. Be prepared for your entrances, folks. That’s your public service announcement for the day.

Fortunately, I knew my part so well after all those continuous run-throughs, I could use my time off-stage to observe Beth from the wings. She was radiant under the lights. She belonged on the stage. A star in the night sky. A golden orb at dusk.

At the top of the second act, as I was lost in the vision of Beth dancing with a lantern in the moonlight, Bing made a comment in my ear.

“She is simply sublime.”

“That she is,” I agreed, never taking my eyes off Beth. Somewhere, it registered that he was speaking about Jane. Her delicate solo in Oh, Dry the Glist’ning Tear was pleasantly lulling. But I only saw Beth. Simply sublime Beth.

“Will,” said Bing when the song ended. “I’ve been doing some soul searching lately.”

That makes two of us.

“I think that’s very wise, Bing.”

“You do?” he said in a surprised tone.

“I do.”

“Oh. Me too.”

“What did you find?” I asked. “When you searched your soul?”

He let out a long sigh, one he’d kept buried deep in his lungs for weeks.

“My best friend in high school. His parents were the worst--always griping,” he said. “They only stayed together for his sake, but they never loved each other.”

“I’m sorry to hear it.” I turned to look at him with sincerity.

“Can you imagine living your life like that? Ending up with a person who’s entirely wrong for you?” His voice quivered slightly. “Especially when there’s someone else out in the world who’s perfect.”

I shook my head. “That would suck.”

“It would totally suck.”

He turned his attention back to the action on stage. He’d have an entrance soon. I observed his face as he watched the object of his affection. He looked so boyish in his goody two shoes sailor costume. He wasn’t a boy, though. And he certainly didn’t need my misguided opinions.

“You won’t let that happen to you,” I observed.

“No.” He puffed up his chest and grabbed his prop to enter the scene. “I won’t. Although I almost did.”

“I’m sorry for that,” I said. “I shouldn’t have interfered at all.”

A short laugh jumped from his throat. “You give yourself too much credit. I’m responsible for my own decisions.”

“If you say so.”

He smiled at me and for the first time in our acquaintance, we both felt the bond of a true friendship.

“I say so,” he said. “Hug it out?”

I slapped him on the back and reached out for a handshake.

“Maybe we can work up to that.”

“Gotcha,” he said, shaking my hand. “See you on stage.”

I watched him make his entrance and join Jane on the stage. He was following his heart. If only I had that same luxury.

30

Something Else

Beth

I should have invited Will over for tacos. There were more than enough to go around; I picked up a party pack at Taco Bell. He probably didn’t eat tacos anyway, washboard stomach and all. Not that I was obsessing over it or anything.

Bing rode with Jane to my apartment, pulling into the parking lot at the same time. I waited at the curb, so we could walk in together, but they weren’t getting out of the car.

“Hey, you guys coming?” I knocked on the hood of Jane’s car. “Nobody likes cold mystery meat.”

Jane waved her hand out the driver’s window. It was dark, but I could swear her eyes glistened with tears.

“Go on ahead,” she said. “We’ll be right in.”

What was going on with these two now? Why was that man always making her cry? I wanted to tap on his window and get some answers. But it was getting chilly, and I knew Jane would tell me eventually. Hopefully, without telenovelas or Cap’n Crunch hair. I made a mental note to hide the remote.

The front door to my apartment was unlocked and as I entered, Lydia’s balloons, flowers, and stuffed animals assaulted my eyes. Was it my imagination, or were there more gifts than before? They took up every spare inch of my apartment.

Lydia lounged on the sofa, propped up with copious amounts of pillows and blankets. Her sister sat next to her on the floor, tenderly stroking her hair.

“Finally,” Lydia exclaimed. “I’m starved.”

Nora had sent me a text an hour before rehearsal ended saying they’d arrived at home, and Lydia was jonesing for bar food. I responded with a taco emoji and she responded, with impeccable grammar, that they would await my arrival. I was so relieved to hear the good news and left the theatre the second Cole finished giving notes.

“Shall I bring your dinner to you and feed you by hand, Cleopatra?” I joked while unpacking the party pack on the breakfast nook.

“Har har,” Lydia grunted as she tried to lift herself from the couch. Nora shot up from the floor to assist her.

“Take it slow, Lydia. I’ll bring you a plate.”

“My butt hurts from sitting on it for two days straight,” replied Lydia. “I think I can manage a few steps to the kitchen.”

Nora wrapped her arm around her sister’s back and helped her maneuver to the kitchen table.

“Should we wait for Jane?” she asked.

“She’s in the parking lot with Bing,” I said resentfully. “Who knows how long they’ll be.”

Nora’s eyebrows arched with curiosity, but she didn’t know us well enough to press for details. All she said was, “Oh.”

“So, are they back together or what?” Lydia asked with a mouth full of crunchy taco.

I shrugged and