Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(42)

Commence stalking.

She got up quickly and had a look.

On closer inspection, it turned out the logo was for a theatre house in the Mission that specialized in newer and unheard-of plays. Either Sean was dating a girl there, or he was in it. Being that the show was already in production, and Sean had only been leaving on time for about two weeks, there was no way Sean could be in it. Krista wasn’t an actor, but even an idiot knew there was rehearsal time, set construction time, dress rehearsals, etc.

But if Sean wasn’t in it, that meant he’d been leaving early to help someone, or to see someone’s performances. Like a good boyfriend would.

She hoped he was in it, and that his new relaxed persona was an acting high. Since that it was only slightly far-fetched, she went with it. Being in creepy stalker mode, it meant she also had to check it out.

Getting to the Mission from the Financial District was easy and effortless. She grabbed a bus that dropped her off right in front of the theatre, then loitered around the area for about a half hour until it was safe to go in unnoticed. If Sean was watching his chick, she didn’t want him to see her sneak in, which meant she needed to go in after the place was already humming with patrons. If he was in it, she didn’t want him looking out from behind the curtain and catching her stalking.

Bottom line, she was trying to be sneaky.

At the ticket booth she didn’t see a price, so she handed $20 to an over-enthused door woman.

“How much did you want to pay, sweetie?” The pink-haired woman asked.

“Just one, please.”

She got a continued expectant look instead of a ticket.

“One? Just me…”

“You pay what you can afford, sweets. We ask that you don’t pay less than $5, but it’s your choice.”

“Oh.” Krista was taken aback a little. That was cool. “Um, fifteen dollars?”

“Sure.”

The hallway in was narrow, lined with ratty flyers crookedly pasted to the walls. The carpet was old and stained, the walls had scuffs, and the lighting was dingy. It certainly wasn’t like one of the many big theater houses in San Francisco; it was much too raunchy. But then, it was the Mission. There was always a certain feel to places in this part of town. The fact that it still existed meant people kept coming back. Hopefully that meant the play would be good. Or decent, at least.

As she emerged from the hallway and rounded the corner, her heart sank. The place was tiny. Shoebox tiny. As in, there were probably only about twenty-five rows allowing for about fifteen people to sit comfortably on each long, flat bench. There weren’t even cushions on the benches. It was like an old, wood grandstand in the little leagues.

And it was only half full. With the lights at full blast.

How the hell was she supposed to be incognito in a dress and heels, in full light, without anyone to hide behind? She was the only one dressed up! She would’ve been better off with a paper bag over her head if she wanted to go unnoticed!

Like the idiot she was, she adhered to habit and glanced up to see who was in the audience. She might as well have hung a sign around her neck that announced her visit.

Bowing her head quickly, and then cursing herself for looking guilty when she was supposed to be indifferent, or distracted, or at the very least not paying attention, she made a route up the steps, intending to aim for a cluster of people in the back. If she was duck hunting, they’d be the tree blind.

Unfortunately, each step of cute high heel on wood step gave a resounding thunk. A few hipster-types looked up from their phones at the wannabe fashionista making her entrance. She couldn’t have been more out of place if she’d tried. This was not going well.

She hadn’t even made it up to the third row when she heard her name.

Crap!

She looked up from under her lashes and saw Ray and Mary in the middle of the theater in the cluster she meant to hide behind. She couldn’t help but groan.

Playing her part, she gave a confused wave and a surprised smile. Still making progress up the rows with a thunk, thunk. they waved back, and then beckoned her in large sweeps of arms, trying to get her to land next to them as if she was a plane and they a runway. Since there were no actual chairs, and no assigned seating, Krista had no choice but to obey.

Silver lining: Sean was nowhere in sight and neither was an unidentified woman. Great news. Although, getting caught stalking while dressing like she was on a night on the town would seem a little Single White Female. Probably not the best thing.

When she reached Ray and Mary she feigned confused happiness at seeing friendly faces.

“Hey guys!” she said vaguely.

“Hi Krista. Sit with us!” Ray said, still motioning for her to sit down. Mary had basically climbed on his lap to repeat the gesture. Everyone in the theatre was watching.

To stop the vaudeville act, Krista sat demurely, albeit with a face to match her red dress.

“Krista, you remember my wife Mary?” Ray leaned back so Mary could lean farther over him in order shake hands.

“Of course,” Krista said with a smile.

“Good to see you again, Krista! I bet Sean is so excited for you to see him in action! He really is very good!” Mary exclaimed.

These two people were quite possibly the friendliest, most positive people on the planet.

Before Krista could answer that she was a creepy, stalking a-hole, or something to that effect, Ray looked up with high eyebrows and started motioning again. Mary followed his gaze a second later, waving animatedly for the next plane to land.