Free Living Dangerously by Dee J. Adams Page B

In fact I’m waiting to be released right now.”
    “Wonderful!” he said. “Can I come pick you up and take you home?”
    The offer shocked her, but he probably had ulterior motives. She’d known the man long enough to realize that. “No need. I’ve got Carrie Ann. She’ll take me.”
    “You know, I set up a reward for anyone with information leading to the arrest of the bastard who did this to you.”
    “I know, Ari. That was very sweet of you. Thank you.” It was also another carrot he had to dangle in front of her nose in hopes she’d reconsider his proposition.
    “ Querida , you know we have to talk about the part. Tonight, I’ll come over with some dinner and wine and we’ll talk.”
    “I’m not sure—”
    “Nonsense. You need to eat and we need to talk about the project. I’ll be there at seven.” He hung up the phone and left Julie staring at the screen.
    “What was that about?” Cal asked, with one lifted eyebrow.
    “Ari just invited himself over for dinner tonight. He wants to talk about the movie. I know I can’t do it since I’ve been shot. Production will start before I’m physically strong enough for the role. He already told me the window for the project is now or six months from now, and six months from now he loses his director of photography. I don’t think he’s as worried about finding an actress for the lead as he is about keeping his DP. I just wish he didn’t feel the need to break the news to me in person. I’m a big girl. I can handle a rejection over the phone.”
    “He’s not coming over just for dinner,” Cal reminded her.
    “How many times do I have to tell the guy no before he gets it? I mean, seriously...does he really think I’m going to have sex with him on the day I get out of the hospital after I’ve already told him that I’m not going to have sex with him to begin with?”
    Cal shrugged. “He’s not thinking with his big head. He’s thinking with his little head.” She needlessly pointed to her crotch.
    How did she counteract Ari tonight? With backup. “Maybe you can drop me off and just stay.” Maybe Ari would consider Cal for the part and leave her alone altogether. Julie’s mouth dropped open wide. That was it!
    “What?” Cal asked. Her eyes narrowed at the obvious excitement on Julie’s face.
    “I’ve got it! I can’t do the movie, but you can!”
    The air in the room changed instantly. Cal sat forward in her seat, her head tilted to the side. “What? What are you saying?” She slipped her iPad into her bag.
    “I’m saying that Ari’s going to tell me he can’t wait for me to shoot the film and you’ll be there and I’ll say, ‘You should talk to Carrie Ann. She’d be great for the role.’”
    “You’d do that for me?” Cal asked, her tone full of shock and awe.
    “Of course! There’s no reason not to. If I can’t have it, at least my best friend should get a shot at it. I mean, it’s up to him, of course, but he’s not going to tell you to your face that he won’t even give you a chance. He’ll be afraid he’s hurting his chances of getting me in the sack. He’ll agree to talk to you, maybe even screen-test you. You’ll be ready and blow him out of the water! It’ll be great!”
    Julie still felt guilty for the Nowhere to Hide debacle. She’d been originally slated to do the role, but the script had changed at the last minute and she hadn’t liked the direction. Cal had auditioned, and because Julie had turned it down, Cal had booked the movie. It had been a disaster. Cal never blamed her for the fallout, but Julie had blamed herself. Yes, she’d told Cal her concerns over the new script and explained why she didn’t want to do the project, but Cal hadn’t cared. She’d thought the movie was going to be giant. It had been a giant flop. That single movie had shaped Cal’s career, and Julie had gone on to shoot one of the biggest blockbuster hits of that year.
    Life worked in mysterious ways.
    Still,