When they exited the stage door, a series of bright flashes nearly blinded Carly. She only stuttered for a moment. Though she’d been out of LA a couple of months now, she was still used to paparazzi. Yet the photographers weren’t magazine guys at all. These were members of their audience.

“Would you mind?” a woman asked. She thrust a Playbill and pen at Carly.

“Oh, no problem.” She signed her name and handed it back, realizing that there were lots more patrons where that one had come from. In fact, there was quite a crowd waiting for them. She moved down the row, just like any other autograph line, but this one felt a little more personal. They’d all just shared an experience together, and that bonded them.

“Hope you enjoyed the show,” Carly said to a teenager. “It was certainly a rush for me. Did you know it was my first time in a play? Ever.”

“I had no clue. I cried twice,” the girl said with a wide grin. “Is the other actress who played Mandy coming out?”

“Yeah, she’s right—Wait. Where did she go?” Carly glanced behind her and saw Lauren waiting off to the side, apart from the barricades separating the crowd from the actors exiting. “One minute. I’ll grab her,” Carly told the teenager.

She approached Lauren. “Pstt. What are you doing?” she whispered.

“I didn’t want to leave without you.”

Carly shot her a look. “You’re not going to sign for them?” She hooked a thumb behind her.

“You’re the famous one. They want you.”

Carly scoffed. “They don’t care about that. They just saw this show. That you starred in. In fact, they’re asking for you.” She gave Lauren a nudge. “Get over there and sign, or I’m going to make the crowd chant for you.”

“Carly, I will kill you dead if you do that. Do you hear me?” Lauren appeared even more nervous than when they’d opened the show itself.

“Come on. This part I have down. You talked me off the ledge earlier, and I can help you through this part, in return.”

“Okay,” Lauren said and took a deep breath.

Carly took her hand and walked her to the teenager who lit up. “Oh my God. I loved you in the show. Like loved. Sorry, I’m Avery. Should have said that. Can you sign my Playbill?”

“Of course,” Lauren said, as her cheeks dusted an adorable pink. “I’d love to. Do you come to a lot of shows at The McAllister?”

Avery nodded and gestured to a woman waiting in the background, likely her mother. “We have season tickets. I hope to audition for my school play.” She shrugged. “We’ll see what happens. I probably won’t get it. You guys were amazing, though.”