Premiere: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens Read Free Book Online

ignore it anymore. Things were tense, and she was being so professional it was making him sick. Being near her every day and looking into the void in her eyes was painful.
    “I think pretty much everything is moving along. It would be helpful if I could see a bit more of the script.”
    “Sam . . .”
    “I know there are issues with needing to add lights to the opening scene. I told Candice yesterday, and that supplier is in town, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.”
    Sam’s hands were now moving on their own, flipping through papers in her binder as she babbled. Peter put his hand on hers, and she froze.
    “Stop, please. I don’t want to talk about the play. I want, I need, to talk about this.”
    He moved his hands indicating something between them.
    “This weird, awkward situation. It has to be strange for you. I know it is for me, and I really want to find a way.”
    “Find a way to what?”
    Sam felt her face warm and she turned to look at him. This was what she was trying to avoid. There wasn’t a discussion that would explain, so Sam saw no reason to discuss anything. The play: that was the focus. Not the actual content, because that was proving difficult, but the details of the production. Sam was choosing to stay focused on paint, lights, timecards, union breaks. She was comfortable as long as they stuck to the details.
    “I want you to. . . I want to be able to . . .” Jesus, you ’ re a writer, man. Spit it out! Peter took in a deep breath. “I guess I want us to be able to work together and not . . .”
    Spencer and Gordy walked up the aisle and Peter was grateful for the reprieve. They looked at Peter and Sam, noticed the tension, and wisely kept moving.
    “Goodnight, guys. You’re the last ones here,” Spencer said. Peter nodded.
    “Hey Sam, thanks again for getting me those gels,” Gordy added as they reached the back door.
    “Oh sure, you’re very welcome. Have a great night.” Sam grinned as both men left through the lobby and then her smile dropped as she turned back to Peter.
    “We are working together. Done. Is there something you’re not getting that we need to address?”
    “No, it’s fine. The show’s getting a great start. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. If you need to hand this off to someone else, I’ll understand.”
    “What? Hand it off? This is my job. I’m going to hand this off because, because you and I have, whatever you want to call it, history? I don’t think so.”
    “I didn’t mean to upset you, I thought, I don’t want you to feel . . .”
    “Peter, you gave up needing to worry about my feelings years ago. As far as I’m concerned you’re a playwright, just like any other playwright, putting on a production in this theater. We grew up together and you moved away. Period. If there’s any awkwardness, it must be yours, because I’m fine.”
    “I thought, since we haven’t talked about it.”
    “Please! You want to talk now? No, the time for talking is over. We have a job to do, our, my theater is counting on this. All I want from you is a good show.”
    “That’s all?”
    “Yup, that’s it. So, unless there’s something the play needs or your staff needs, I have to get going.”
    Peter looked at Sam as she stood to leave. She took a breath, looked down at her papers, and then over at the stage. Hand it off, was he out of his overly inflated mind? She tried to keep a handle on all of her feelings nagging for release. She wasn’t strong enough, and the words slid off her lips before she could pull them back.
    “One question before I leave.”
    “Sure,” he said, standing.
    “What’s the ending? How does the play end? I mean, is everyone happy when the curtain finally drops?”
    “I, Sam . . .”
    “You know what, forget it.”
    She turned to leave.
    “No, wait. It did all work out. Didn’t it? Grady is happy and you, you’re happy, aren’t you? I’m sure after I left everything eventually . . .”
    “Worked out? Yeah, sure