Bad Romeo Christmas: A Starcrossed Anthology by Leisa Rayven Read Free Book Online Page B

again. The show sounds great. When do you start?"
    "In February. Plenty of time to train someone to replace me."
    Cassie sighs. "Well, I hate the idea of losing you, but if you insist on being all selfish and popular, I guess I'll admit it's a great opportunity. Who are they getting for Kate and Pertruchio?"
    Elissa goes pale and takes a quick sip of wine. "Uh, actually, that's a big secret, but I guess it's okay to tell you guys. We found out yesterday they've secured two of the biggest movie stars in the world for the lead roles. Angel Bell and ... uh ... Liam Quinn."
    "Quinn?" I say. "Really? Wow."
    Cassie's mouth drops open. "Wait, Liam set-my-panties-aflame-with-his-hotness Quinn is your star? Are you kidding me?"
    "Hey," I say and grab her thigh beneath the table. "Husband-to-be, sitting right here."
    She waves me off. "Oh, please. Your hotness leaves Liam Quinn for dead, but he's still a veeery attractive man."
    Elissa shrugs and drinks more wine. "If you say so."
    She's not fooling anyone, least of all me. I remember how she and Quinn had some sort of doe-eyed mutual appreciation society going on when we were all doing Romeo and Juliet for the Tribeca Shakespeare Festival six years ago. Back then, I was Mercutio and Quinn was Romeo. That was the year before a certain brown-haired actress showed up at the auditions for The Grove and upended my entire world. So, yeah, even though Quinn moved out to L.A. and ended up becoming a megastar who now commands millions of dollars per movie, considering how everything turned out with Cassie, I figure I got the better deal.
    "Wow," Cassie says. "I can't believe they got Hollywood's golden couple to do Broadway. Surely their schedule is jam-packed with looking fabulous and showing off their perfect love. I wonder if one of the producers had to sell a kidney to afford their fees."
    Elissa shrugs. "Probably. But they're predicting their combined star power will break all box office records, so I guess they'll earn it all back."
    "As long as Angel doesn't fall in love with me at first sight and break up with Quinn, of course," Josh says before tearing into a bread roll.
    Elissa smiles at him and shakes her head. "Yeah, that's a real danger. Maybe I should make you wear a bag over your pretty face to prevent that from happening."
    Josh puts his arm on the back of her chair and leans forward. "You honestly think a little paper will protect her from the power of all of this?" He gestures to himself. "You're dreaming, lady. I mean, I'll try not to break up one of the most popular couples in the history of Hollywood, but I can't promise anything. The heart wants what it wants, and I predict Angel Bell's heart wants a hot-geek assistant stage manager who can recite the Gettysburg address in Klingon if he's had enough booze."
    Elissa suppresses a laugh. "Of course she does. It's every girl's dream."
    Josh glares at her. "The sarcasm is hurtful, Lissa. Hurtful and unnecessary. Bah humbug to you, too."
    Now, everyone laughs, and I'm touched to see how Cassie gazes at my sister with clear adoration. Even when Cassie hated my guts she loved my sister, and Elissa couldn't be happier that one of her best friends is going to become her sister-in-law.
    "Well, little sister," I say and raise my glass. "Congrats on the new job. I hope you have a great time; even though looking at Quinn's ugly mug every day will probably make you sick to your stomach."
    She blushes and gives me a small smile. Considering my sister hardly ever blushes, I'd say that rehearsal process with her and Liam is going to be as entertaining as hell.
    "To Elissa and Josh, and their new endeavor," my dad says as we all toast. "And merry Christmas to all Holts." He gestures to Josh and Cassie. "Especially those who are honorary, or Holts-to-be."
    Beneath the table, Cassie takes my hand, and I squeeze it. I get a strange sense of possession every time I think about her being my wife. It's not some sort of douchey sense of