Page 42 of The Devil of Downtown

For a second, I honestly think I misheard her. “Wait—Lorraine? As in... a featured role, Lorraine?”

“That’s right,” she says, laughing. “You brought great energy to both the dance and vocal rounds. Rehearsals start Wednesday. We’ll send over the details this afternoon.”

My mouth drops open. It’s a featured role. Not lead, but way above ensemble. “Oh my God, thank you! That’s amazing.”

I hang up in stunned silence. Jennie blinks at me. “Well?”

“I got it,” I whisper. Then louder, “Jennie, I freaking got it!”

She screams and hugs me across the table, almost knocking over her latte.

Brody smiles softly, bumping my shoulder. “I knew you’d kill it. Look at us both with new jobs. We definitely need to have a night out to celebrate.”

“Yeah, evenings are free during rehearsals. Once the show starts, forget it,” I say, unable to wipe the stupid grin from my face, until I glance at the wall clock, realizing how late it is.

“Shoot, I should get going; I need to pick up Elsie.”

“Go, I’ll catch you later,” Brody says, flashing the crooked grin that used to make my knees weak. “Just don’t disappear to London without letting me know next time.”

I paste on a smile, biting back the retort that rises to my tongue.You’re one to talk.

“Yeah. I’ll try,” I say, shouldering my bag.

I rush outside to the nearest subway, my phone still warm in my hand from the call. I should be floating. It should feel like everything I’ve been working towards, and it does, for a second. But then, the memory ofhimresurfaces.Dane.His voice. His touch.

I shove the thought down, reminding myself it’s done. A mistake. A single, stupid, impossible moment.

By the time I get home, the school bus is already rounding the corner. Elsie’s bus pulls up, and the second she spots me, she comes flying down the steps. “Auntie Ivy!” she squeals, wrapping her arms around my waist.

“Hey, superstar.” I smooth her hair. “How’s my favorite person?”

“We did painting.”

“Oh, yeah, let me see.”

She digs into her backpack and proudly holds up a sheet of paper, corners already curled from excitement.

“Wow,” I say, crouching so she can scramble onto my back. “Is this you, me, and Mommy?”

“Mmmhmm.” Her tiny arms lock around my shoulders as we start toward the apartment, her sneakers bumping softly against my thighs.

“Is that me on the floor?” I squint at the drawing, biting back a grin.

“D’uh, you’re doing the splits—like we do in dance class.”

“Ah, of course. Silly me.”

She giggles against my ear. “Auntie Ivy, can we watchEncantowhen we get home?”

“Again? You’ve seen it a zillion times.”

“Please,” she says, voice muffled as she rests her cheek on my shoulder.

“Okay,” I sigh in mock defeat. “But only if you take your medicine first. Deal?”

“Deal.”

We grab a few groceries on the way back. As soon as we’re home, Elsie dives on the couch and curls under a blanket, humming along asEncantoplays for—yep—the zillionth time. I chop vegetables to the rhythm of the music, smiling as I prep dinner.