Chasin' Eight (Rough Riders #11)(142)

“Don’t be so sure about that.”

Silence. “Really? Well, that’s new. Tell me about it.”

Ava talked about what she’d seen and experienced over the last few weeks and how it’d changed her, not only personally but career-wise. It felt good to bounce ideas off her mom, because she defined savvy businesswoman.
“I’m proud of you, Ava. I’ve always been proud of you even when I didn’t understand your love of show business. But I’m happy to hear you’ve figured out you’re more than an actress and want to try other things within the industry. I’d be happier yet if you asked to come to work for me.”

Ava laughed and sniffled. “No way. We’d kill each other.”

“Probably. Anyway, I’m also happy that you found your other half.” Her mom got quiet for a second. “My life would be hollow without your father in it. Having a successful career is great, but being in a loving relationship is even better. So back to the Chase issue…”

“What should I do?”

“Give him time. Don’t call him, don’t text him, don’t IM him, don’t email him.”

“Mom. I don’t think playing games will work.”

“Oh, this isn’t a game. This is a way to show him what a big hole his life will have without you in it. You’ve been joined at the hip for almost two months. Let him miss you, sweetie. Let yourself know what it’s like to really miss him.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“And if that doesn’t work? Go with plan B.”

Her mother, businesswoman extraordinaire, always had a backup plan. “And what is that?”

“Track him down, tie him up and force him to listen to reason. It helps if you’re naked. And holding beer.”

“Ah, Mom. I don’t think that will work.”

“It sure did with your dad. Good luck, sweetie, keep in touch.”

Ava packed her bag and booked a commercial flight to LA.
“Why am I so nervous?” Ava asked Hannah, two days later.
“I’ll tell you what I think after the audition.” Hannah straightened Ava’s miniskirt for the third time.
“That’s not helping my nerves.” She tried not to think that Chase would know exactly what to say to her to calm her down. The door to the conference room opened and a long-legged blond strolled out. “We’re ready for you, Miss Cooper.”

Ava squeezed Hannah’s hand and followed Corporate Casting Barbie into the conference room. Well, at least this production company didn’t have the clichéd casting couch. Ava chose the chair directly in the middle, across from the desk of the three executives who were too busy on their phones to acknowledge her.
Finally another blonde met Ava’s gaze and smiled coolly. “I’m Nina Beal. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Cooper. I was a huge fan of Miller’s Ridge. Pity it got cancelled.”

“Thank you.”

The man sporting a Groucho Marx mustache peered at her over the top of his glasses. “We’ve cast the two stars of this show. We’re casting secondary characters. The part you’re being considered for is Mamie’s best friend, Sally.”

“Sally is the opposite of our quirky, fun-loving, serial dating, always-finding-man-trouble main character, Mamie,” the other man, who looked like Woody Allen’s younger, nerdier brother, inserted.
So Sally was the stick-in-the-mud sidekick. How fun. “What ages are these characters?”

“Just out of college.” The woman studied Ava openly. “She could pass as twenty-two. If we darkened her hair more.”