Carly lit up. “It went as well as I had hoped. We ran the scene a couple of different ways. They put me on video, which is customary, and by the end, I think the director was really happy.” She leaned in. “Hennessy is a straightforward guy, and I don’t think he would have gushed as much as he had if the offer wasn’t coming, you know?”

“Of course.” Lauren sent a silent thank-you to the stars, which, on their way in, had glistened extra bright. Carly needed this pick-me-up in a big way. “I knew you’d nail it. Have you worked with this director before?”

“Never, but we run in a lot of the same circles. I like his style.”

“I liked the director from my audition today, too. I wound up with an extra one, which is why I was late. A casting director thought I might be a fit for another film her office was handling. So I ran over with it being so close and got to read for the part. Let me tell you, it felt like a much bigger deal than the low budget indie I read for first.” She hugged her shoulders together. “I felt Hollywood fancy. It was fun.”

Carly laughed and sipped the wine. “Sometimes you find the very best possible projects that way. What’s the film about?”

“I’m not sure. I didn’t even get the title of the film because it was such a whirlwind getting there, but the sides were from a scene in a courtroom and I read for a witness. We did some workshopping, and then they had me read with another actor who’s already been cast.”

“Oh.” Carly inclined her head to the side. “That sounds like they really liked you.” She paused and set down her wine, as if mulling something over. “You said it was a court scene you read today. That sounds like my audition for the Hennessy film, strangely.”

Lauren froze. “I don’t think so. The director’s name was Rick.”

Carly nodded, her smile now tight. “Rick Hennessy.”

“Oh, wow.” Lauren didn’t know where to go. Had she known this was Carly’s audition, the one she’d been so excited about, she never in a million years would have gone in for it.

Carly shook her head ruefully. “We read for the same director today. Can you believe that? Crazy.”

Lauren blinked. “I honestly didn’t realize. I’m so sorry.”

Carly appeared unfazed, but almost as if she was trying for that. “You have nothing to apologize for. This town is pretty small at the end of the day.”

Lauren sat back in her chair just as two amazing plates of food were set in front of them. She laughed. “I don’t even know what to say now.”

This was certainly awkward.