Free Big Apple Dreams by Kamery Solomon Page B

to her on the couch as she placed a spoonful of the cold deliciousness in her mouth.
    “I would have thought you loved musicals,” I said, taking my dish and joining her. “Since it’s your job to work with them.”
    “I was teasing,” Evan said with a smile, joining us in the living room and sitting on the other side of me. “It’s this thing that brother’s do to their sisters.”
    “Ugh. Get out now, while you still can, Mara,” Lizzy said, rolling her eyes. “I’ve spent my whole life as the victim of his brotherly teasing and trust me—that is not something you want to be a part of!”
    “It’s not that bad,” he said with an over dramatic eye roll. “Liz just made it that easy to laugh at her.”
    “It’s fine, really.” I shrugged, enjoying their company and the look into their relationship. I didn’t have any siblings . I’d never really been close enough with anyone to feel like an adopted sister.
    “So, I assume we were talking about The Boy Toy when I showed up?” Evan said after swallowing his first bite.
    Lizzy’s eyes bugged out of her head as she choked on her dessert.
    “You actually want me to keep talking about a boy in front of you?!”
    Blush shot across my face as Evan nodded, a mischievous grin on his lips.
    “I have to keep an eye out for my . . . sister. Don’t I?”
    “Mara’s too chicken to do anything,” Lizzy laughed, making a silly face at me.
    “I am not,” I said, my face getting even redder.
    A brief, odd look crossed Evan’s face as he looked at me, but it was gone before I could decipher the meaning behind it.
    “It sounded like I should be more worried about Liz kidnapping him,” he laughed easily, turning his attention back to his bowl.
    “Maybe you should be,” Lizzy huffed dramatically before winking at me.
    “So, how did the rest of your auditions go, Evan?” I butted in, wanting to drive the subject away from my intimate life.
    “Steph auditioned us right out of a show,” he said bitterly. “Maybe we’ll try again later. She’s still mad that I blamed her for it not going well.”
    “How awful,” I said sympathetically. “If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”
    “You have your own shows to get into,” he laughed. “How are your auditions going, by the way?”
    “Um,” I said, looking down at the floor. “Not great, actually. I’m starting to feel like I’m wasting my time.”
    I’d been keeping my frustrated feelings to myself, but it was true. I had never heard anything back from any of the casting panels I’d performed for. My brain told me that it was normal and to keep trying, but my heart was starting to shout out every little imperfection I thought I had.
    “You’re not,” Evan said seriously. “That’s how it works here. There are so many actors and not that many parts. Casting directors can literally wait for someone who fit their mind’s image perfectly. The point is to not give up.”
    “I know,” I mumbled, stabbing my spoon into the melting blob in my bowl. “I feel stuck , though. I feel like I’m not going to get any better if I’m not actively working, but no one will hire me so I can do so.”
    “Why don’t you sign up for some classes?” Lizzy suggested. “They have loads of them everywhere.”
    “Yeah,” Evan agreed. “Then you can still be practicing and growing in your areas, while you go out and audition. Plus, you could make some really great contacts that will help you out in the future.”
    “It’s not a bad idea,” I admitted. “I could probably fit a few in every week.”
    “I think that would really help you feel better about things,” Lizzy said with a smile. “I’ll even go to some with you, if you want.”
    “Don’t let her,” Evan warned. “Lizzy belongs in the kitchen, not on a stage.”
    “Aw!” Lizzy said with a smile. “Normally, I’d punch out any man who said I belong in the kitchen, but I know how you meant it.”
    She set her bowl down and