“Absolutely nothing. It’s a nice night, and I don’t want to think about any of that anymore. Not when you’re here.” She held out her hand to Lauren. “Come here. We can keep each other warm.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” Lauren said, allowing Carly to tug her until she sat in her lap, Lauren’s back against her shoulder. “I’m happy to be right here.” Lauren turned Carly’s face up to hers and kissed her softly. “What a crazy day.”

“Tell me about it. I want to live vicariously.” Carly wrapped an arm around Lauren’s midsection and snuggled in, taking a deep inhale.

Lauren laughed. “Please, I’m the one in your world.”

Carly blew out a jaded breath. “Not from where I’m sitting. You’re the one getting all the action.”

“For bit parts maybe.” Lauren’s arm was draped around Carly’s shoulder. She began to play with Carly’s hair as they sat there, lifting it and letting it fall, which felt so amazing that Carly almost let go of the emotions that seemed to be taking their turns with her. Anger, desolation, and fear danced in a conga line of attack. The night seemed larger than she was, daunting in a new and unfamiliar sense.

“A job is a job.” Carly forced a smile. “How did the auditions go?”

Lauren scrunched her shoulders in that cute and hopeful way she sometimes did. “I think they went well. For this guest starring role on The Subdivision, they wanted to talk the scene out with me and try different motivations and tactics in the room. I’ve never had that before. Back in my auditioning days, they would just say thank you fifteen seconds in, and that’d be it.” She snagged a sip of Carly’s wine.

“You have clout now. A quality credit from The McAllister and, even more importantly to them, UTA sent you. Everyone loves UTA.”

Lauren shook her head, mystified, staring out into the night. “Who knew a stamp of approval from a reputable agency would pull such a different response to the very same person?”

Carly pointed at herself and sipped her wine. “The second I was signed with Alika, the landscape of my career tilted dramatically in a positive direction. People paid more attention.”

“I can’t imagine anyone not paying you attention. We walk into a restaurant and heads swivel.”

“That’s not about me. I wish it was. That’s about the idea of me. The allure of fame.”

Lauren turned in her lap to see Carly better. “You’re depressed tonight. Do me a favor and look at me.”