7. Audrey

CHAPTER 7

Audrey

Parker

Did you eat lunch today?

Audrey

Yes.

Well, depending on what you classify as lunch.

Rosie, what am I going to do with you?

Meet me for dinner?

Yeah. Definitely that.

S towing my phone back in my bag and doing my best not to smile at Parker’s overbearing tendencies, I focused my energy on my advanced musical theater class. We met in the theater building, seated in the front rows of the auditorium unless we were on stage. This building—this stage—felt like home to me after almost three years on this campus, and it never really felt like the semester had begun until I’d walked across the wooden floors.

This was what I wanted to do after I graduated. Perform. Hopefully on Broadway, but I wouldn’t be too picky. Still, the idea of getting to do musical theater for a living sent a rush of rightness down my spine. It might not be an easy road to get there, but I was ready for the challenge.

We were already two weeks into the semester, and it felt like everything was flying by in the blink of an eye. Like if I blinked, it would be February tomorrow. I had my notebook in my lap, taking notes and doodling hearts in the margins.

The hour flew by quickly, everyone shoving their papers in their bag and getting ready to head to their next class as we finished up. I didn’t have another one for another hour after this, so I didn’t have to rush as much.

“Audrey?” Professor Woods called out my name as I was grabbing my stuff. “Can you hang back?”

My cheeks warmed. Shit. I hated being called out like this in front of everyone. Nodding, I dropped back into my seat until the room had emptied.

She leaned against the table at the front and sighed. “I’m afraid I have bad news.”

“Oh.” I bit my lip. “Did I do something wrong? Because I?—”

“No.” She held up a hand. “You’re doing great, Audrey. I’m very impressed with how hard you’ve been working these last few months. Ever since you were cast, really.”

“So… what’s the problem?”

“Your co-star… Will. He was just put on disciplinary probation.”

“Shit.” That meant he was basically suspended from school until he got his grades up, and he couldn’t be a part of any extracurriculars, including the spring musical. I was getting class credit for the production, but not everyone involved was. “What does that mean for the show?” We’d gotten the scripts last semester, but rehearsals hadn’t started yet. Still, this was a big production.

“Well…” She winced. “You know how this normally goes. The understudy gets the part, and we’d find a new understudy from the ensemble.”

My heart stopped. “No.” It felt like all the color had drained out of my face. “ Please , no.”

Because the man who’d been cast as the stand-in was none other than my asshole ex. Duke. He’d been hoping for the lead part from the beginning, but I’d been able to breathe easier when his name hadn’t been on the list.

Now, though… I could feel all my muscles tense up.

She patted me on the leg, her voice soothing. “That’s why I wanted to approach you first, dear. Since it’s still the beginning of the semester, and not everyone has learned their lines yet, I thought maybe we could do something else.”

“Yes. Whatever it is, yes.” I dropped my voice into a whisper. “Please don’t make me act opposite him.”

“It goes against protocol, but I have an idea. And since I’m the department head, I can get away with it.” She winked at me. Her eyes were soft—caring—when she shook her head. “If you can find a replacement who can take on a role of this scope, I’ll be happy to make the change. We already have such a hard time getting men to try out as it is.”

“Me?” By myself? How the hell was I going to accomplish that? I didn’t know any guys on campus with copious amounts of free time and could sing and dance.

Well… Parker’s face flashed to my mind, thinking of when we’d laid on the grass and sung that duet. But I hadn’t heard him sing since. Plus, he was busy with lacrosse. I couldn’t ask him to do something like this for me. Not that he’d ever even consider it. He might have been my best friend, but some things were just too much.

She patted my shoulder. “I’ll keep my ears open too, Audrey. Just let me know if I can do anything for you.”

I nodded, watching as she walked away, staying in my seat in the silence of the classroom. There wasn’t another acting class after ours, which I was grateful for. It gave me the time to compose myself.

To figure out what I was going to do.

“What’s wrong?” Parker asked, looking up from his chicken, rice, and veggie bowl. He’d met me at the sorority house and we’d walked over to the dining hall together, like we were settling back into our routine from last semester. Even if it had only been for the last month and a half of the semester, I’d gotten used to eating dinner with him. It was nice not having to eat alone.

Especially when Ella had been busy with Cam and sorority responsibilities.

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been quiet all night.” He raised an eyebrow. “And you’re never quiet.”

“Oh.” I poked at my salad. He was right. Ella was the quiet, subdued twin. She was the one who preferred to be a wallflower. I was the opposite. I loved to stand out. To be the center of attention. I loved to talk. My mom always joked that I loved to hear myself speak.

Tonight, though, I couldn’t stop thinking about the spring musical. That I was most likely going to have to spend a lot of time in close quarters with my ex-boyfriend. One who couldn’t seem to get over me, even if he’d been the reason we’d broken up in the first place.

“I just got some bad news today,” I finally admitted. “The other lead for the musical this semester dropped. And if there’s no one who auditions, then the understudy steps into the role.”

“And?” He looked confused. “I don’t understand. What’s the problem?”

“The problem is the understudy is my ex, Duke.”

Parker furrowed his eyebrows. “Why? Is he even in the theater department?”

I laughed. “No. He’s a business student. You don’t have to be a theater student to audition. He doesn’t know the first thing about theater; he’s just determined to do whatever I do, I guess. Maybe he gets some sort of secret rush from stalking me.” If I didn’t laugh, I’d cry, so I just shook my head—like that would make the thoughts go away.

“That’s fucked up.” He grit his teeth. “He auditioned just to make you uncomfortable? Audrey, you need to get a restraining order.”

I sucked in a breath. “I can’t.” I’d tried last semester. After Halloween, when he’d grabbed me on the sidewalk, I’d gone to the campus safety building and asked for help. But it wasn’t enough. And all I felt was ashamed.

“What?” Parker’s expression was pure rage. For me . “What do you mean?”

I winced. “He hasn’t hurt me.” The admission was whispered. I looked away, not wanting to look at him as I said the words. “Campus safety won’t do anything unless there’s proof of physical violence.”

And besides him grabbing my wrist, he’d never hurt me. I’d never been beaten black and blue. I should be grateful for that, they’d said. He wasn’t violent.

No, he was just a chauvinistic pig. But that didn’t warrant a restraining order.

“Audrey…”

Shaking my head, I diverted all my energy into eating my salad. I tried to ignore the way his eyes were on me. How I could feel him staring at me—like he was trying to make sure I was okay. That I wouldn’t break.

I didn’t want to cry. Not in front of him. I couldn’t. Because the second I let go, I’d shatter. And I wasn’t sure I was ready to put all the pieces back together.

“What if I do it?”

My jaw dropped open, and I gaped at him. “What?”

“The musical. I’ll do it.”

“Parker. You can’t. You don’t even know the first thing about acting.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I can learn.”

I shot him a look. “What about lacrosse? You don’t exactly have time to be a part of a musical. What will you do about the season?”

He shrugged. “I’ll talk to coach. Make it work. Besides, don’t you think my best friend is more important?”

“Well…” I bit my lip. It was nice that someone else cared enough to put me first like this. Sure, Ella always had, and I knew she always would.

But I didn’t want to involve her in this. Not when she was so happy now.

“Besides, there’s no fucking way I’m letting Duke hurt you. Not anymore. I’ve got your back, Audrey. That’s what best friends are for, right?”

I blushed. “Yeah. Thanks.”

Best friend, I reminded myself. He was my best friend. I couldn’t like him. Not like that. But when he stood up for me and proclaimed things like that, butterflies erupted in my chest.

Still, I couldn’t take him up on his offer. I’d have to find another way.

After we finished up at dinner and Parker walked me home, I went inside the sorority house, dropped onto my bed and stared up at the ceiling. The semester had just started, and it was already off the rails.

I knew what I needed right now, more than anything: my sister. Part of me missed when she’d only been a bed away instead of a floor. Taking two stars at a time, I headed to her room, barging inside without knocking. “Ella?—”

She let out a small moan, and oh, God. I shrieked, covering my eyes. Cam was here.

What was I thinking coming into my sister’s room when she had a boyfriend?

“Oh.” Peeking out from behind my hands, I felt a little better when I noticed he still had his pants on. Ella was in his lap, and he had his hands on her shoulders, massaging them. “Hey, Cam,” I said, and he nodded.

“Audrey. What’s wrong?” Ella frowned at me as I started frantically pacing back and forth across my floor. I ran my fingers through my hair, tugging at the strands. “What happened?”

“The other lead dropped out of the musical. He’s on academic probation, so they won’t let him perform. And if they don’t find someone to replace him, I’m stuck with Duke,” I finally said, blowing out a puff of air, my bangs rising from the motion.

“Really? Is there no understudy?”

“There is.” Duke . “But since we’ve barely started running lines, he already volunteered to fill the role officially .” I rolled my eyes. “Like I want to kiss him on stage.” Wrinkling my nose at the thought of ever kissing him again, I finally had to shake my head like I could get rid of the mental picture. “Anyway. I don’t know what to do.”

“Is there nothing that Dr. Woods can do?”

If only I hadn’t already tried that. She was the department chair, the one who taught my class, and in charge of the spring musical.

“No. And Duke won’t leave me alone. He keeps trying to get me to agree to get back together. I don’t know what to do, and Parker?—”

Said he’d star in the musical with me. Which was insane. Even if it was the answer to all my problems.

“Parker?” Ella asked, raising an eyebrow. “Are you guys…?”

“No.” I felt my cheeks warm. “Never mind. That doesn’t matter.”

“Well…” My twin frowned. “I wish I could help more, but I don’t have any suggestions.”

I sighed, and Ella opened her arms, enveloping me in a hug.

“Thank you. That’s all I needed,” I murmured into her hold. I didn’t need someone to fix it. I just needed someone to listen to me.

And I needed my sister.

“I’m always here for you, Ro. You know that.”

I squeezed her tighter. “Love you.”

“Love you too,” she whispered back.

Saying goodbye, I went back to my room, knowing exactly what I needed to do.

Tell Parker yes.

The next day, as if he’d somehow found out my schedule and knew exactly where I’d be, Duke was standing outside the theater building, leaning against the wall as I came outside. Campus was quiet since the next class had already started, so there weren’t too many people lingering around the building.

I’d just come from talking with Professor Woods, telling her about Parker. She was skeptical, even though I told her he could really sing. But maybe that had to do more with the fact that he was a jock.

Even I was surprised he’d volunteered to step into the role. Either way, she was on board as long as he came in for a formal audition.

Avoiding Duke’s gaze, I raised my chin and continued walking forward.

He jogged up beside me, his backpack slung over one shoulder. “Aud. Come on. Talk to me.”

“Why are you here, Duke?” I asked, still not looking at him.

“To get you to take me back.” His tone made it seem like it was obvious.

I scoffed. “No.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I spun to glare at him. “You cheated on me , Duke.” And he gaslit me into thinking it was my fault. Strung me along because he knew I was infatuated with him. But I didn’t love him, not anymore. Those feelings had turned to acid, and now they just burned. But maybe I’d never really loved him. Not the way you were supposed to.

“Baby, it didn’t mean anything, and you know it. She didn’t mean anything, Aud. The girl I want to be with is you. I told you I was sorry?—”

Should have thought about that before you put your dick in another girl , I wanted to scream. But that wasn’t the only problem. No, it was the way he treated me. Like I was just some pretty trophy for his shelf.

I was tired of that. Even if I was pretty, popular, and loved the color pink, it didn’t mean I was an airhead. And it definitely didn’t mean I just wanted to be someone’s arm candy.

No, I had my own dreams. And there was no room for a man like Duke at my side—no way in hell.

“Did you?” I asked, point blank. Because he’d never apologized once for breaking my heart. For shattering my trust.

“I’ll be your knight in shining armor. C’mon. Just like old times. And you’ll get to kiss me every night.” He wagged his eyebrows.

I almost threw up in my mouth. I never wanted to kiss him again, which was exactly why I didn’t want him to be my co-lead in the musical. “Gross. As if . Duke, we’re over. Just like I told you the last time.” When would he take a hint. “It’s been months . Why won’t you just move on?” All I wanted was for him to leave me alone. Seriously, I didn’t think it was that hard.

“Because you’re mine.”

“No. I’m not.” And then I said what might have been the dumbest thing to slip out of my mouth. “Besides, I’m with someone else now.” A lie. But maybe if he thought I was off the market, he’d leave me alone.

“What?” He growled. “You mean that jock asshole? I don’t like how he puts his hands all over you.”

Stopping, I planted my hands on my hips and glared at him. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of telling him yes or no. “You mean my best friend , Parker? Newsflash, Duke. We were friends long before you ever existed in my life, and we’ll be friends for long afterward. Parker’s important to me. So you can just fuck off for all I care. Go find someone else to fuck.”

“Audrey.” His eyes were burning with rage, and he stepped closer towards me.

I took a step back towards the building, and he continued forward. One step. Another. Until my back was pressed up against the tile, and Duke grabbed my wrists, pinning them up against the wall. “Are you fucking him?”

I spit in his face. “None of your damn business, asshole.”

Duke snorted. “Then you haven’t.” He looked smug, and I ripped my arms away.

“Leave me alone, Duke. I think I’ve made myself pretty clear when I said that I’m. Not. Interested.”

Heaving my bag over my arm, I set off on campus, hoping he wouldn’t follow me. Hoping that everything would be fine.

Why had I told him I was dating someone? Ugh, I wished that was true. Maybe that was what I really needed to get him off my back.

Audrey

Are you sure you’re up for being in the musical?

It’s a big responsibility, and I know you have lacrosse. I don’t want it to interfere with your schedule or make any problems for you.

Parker

Will it help?

Yes.

Then it’ll be fine. I’ll talk to Coach.

Thank you.

Of course. What are best friends for?

One more small, teeny thing.

Uh huh?

Can you come in tomorrow for an audition? It’ll just be with my professor in charge of the musical, but she wants to hear you sing.

Oh. Okay. Yeah. I can do that. Just let me know what time, and I’ll see if I can fit it in.

Any suggestions on music?

Want to talk it over at dinner?

You bet. Meet in an hour?

Sounds great. You’re the best.