Ms. Cole then handed in her script and strode up the aisle. As she passed by Lindsey and the others, Lindsey said, “That was excellent, Ms. Cole.”

Ms. Cole inclined her head just a smidgen and kept walking. Lindsey sighed. After two years, Ms. Cole still just barely tolerated her.

“She actually slowed down,” Sully said. “For her that’s almost affection.”

Lindsey chuckled and turned to find him grinning at her. “Thanks. I’ll cling to that life raft.”

“Do,” he said.

He was standing closer than he’d been in months, and it was all Lindsey could do not to lean into him. She took a step back just in case the impulse overrode her common sense.

It wasn’t that she was still mad at Sully for breaking up with her; okay, maybe she was a little mad. It was more self-preservation after the realization that the man was the original big, strong, silent type, which was lovely in the sense that he didn’t talk her ears off, but it was annoying in that she had no idea what was going on inside of him because he didn’t tell her.

She could be as book smart as all get out, but she wasn’t a mind reader. And unless Sully started opening up and talking to her, any relationship between them was doomed because instead of telling her his feelings he just made decisions, like dumping her, which had blindsided her. She was not going to go through that again.

“Well, I’d better be going,” she said. “Heathcliff will wonder what’s become of me.”

“I’ll be happy to give you a ride,” Sully offered.

“Thanks, but I have my bike,” she said. She turned back to Mary and Nancy, and said, “So, I’m assuming we wait for the cast to be announced, because we can’t make the costumes until we have the proper measurements.”

“All except for me,” a voice said from behind her.

Lindsey turned to find Robbie Vine there.

“That’s right,” Lindsey said. “You’re Violet’s special guest brought in specifically to play Puck.”

He gave her a slight bow. Then he held out his arm and said, “Come on. I’ll walk you out and we can discuss your vision for my character’s wardrobe.”

“What does ‘the merry wanderer of the night’ wear?” Lindsey asked. She didn’t take his arm, so Robbie simply took her hand in his and put it through his elbow himself.

“The possibilities are endless,” he said as he led her from the room. “What do you think of deep-purple velvet?”

Lindsey glanced over her shoulder and waved to the group. She could feel Sully’s eyes burning on her face but she didn’t have the courage to meet his gaze.

“Velvet?” she asked. “Wouldn’t that be hot under the lights?”

“True,” he agreed. “I suppose I could be naked.”