“I’d love to. Give my agent a call, but I’m in.”

“Will do. Thanks again for appearing.”

“I had the best time.” She didn’t even have to bolster her enthusiasm. It was real. When she gathered her belongings and returned to her car, she had a message waiting from her Realtor.

“We have a full-ask offer on the house. Call me.” She blinked at the horizon as fear crept in. Yes, she needed to let go of the home that was way too big for one person, and also a burden to her bank account. Without that huge mortgage and upkeep costs looming over her each month, she’d breathe so much easier, decreasing the pressure on her to make the kind of money she used to. Still, the unknown was a little scary. She and Fallon had a date to go house hunting in a less expensive part of Hollywood. She’d always been a fan of the shops and restaurants in Franklin Village and planned to check out what they had on the market.

She called her real estate agent and listened to the details of the all-cash offer. “They want a fast close. Two weeks. What do you think?”

She closed her eyes, saying good-bye to her infinity pool, knowing there were many things, and more specifically people, that made her happier. “Take the deal.”

“You’re a smart woman,” her agent said.

“Trying to be.”

She clicked off the call. As she drove home, she felt…lighter. She flipped on the radio and sang along, with a smile. When she got home, she fired off a text to Lauren, who she’d left alone for the past two weeks while she did as Lauren had asked: worked on herself. Today felt like a step toward being happy again, and she wanted to share that.

Today was a good day, she typed. Thinking about you. You don’t have to answer me, just wanted to share.

She didn’t receive an answer and that was okay. It hadn’t been the reason for the text. She went to sleep that night knowing this wouldn’t be her bedroom for long.

The next morning, Alika called. “You’re not going to believe this, but the game show people think you’re the damn bee’s knees and want you for another one.”

She laughed. “I had a blast. Tell them yes. My calendar seems to be open.”

“They’re shooting in a week and will send over some background information about what they’re looking for.”

“Good thing I love games.”

“Is this the wildest idea we’ve ever had?” Alika asked. She was smiling, though. Carly could hear it.

She sighed. “I’ve stopped trying to run the Hollywood race. I think, Alika, it’s time to be a good person and enjoy what life brings my way. That seems to be game shows, and I’m thrilled.”

“Then who are we to argue?”