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“That part I auditioned for last week? The second lead in the touring coot it!”

“Oh, ! I’m so happy for—”

“Yeah But the thing is, we head out next week And we’ll be gone for six months So—so—”

The floor seemed to tilt under Emily’s feet

“You’reout?”

“See, they offered the role to so and she had to back out and that’s why they only just contacted me and—”

“That’s fine No, really, Ieven better lined up”

“You sure? ’Cause it didn’t sound as if—”

“Oh he’s all bluster He’s going to call me back with the details”

By the tiain, Nola had left for the theater Emily was in the shower Her pulse soared Maybe it really was Max

By the tione to voice mail

“Emily?” a husky voice said “Pick up if you’re there It’s Marco Marco Santini”

Her heart thudded

She hadn’t expected him to call Why would she? She’d made a fool of herself, and if she’d had any doubt about that, all she had to do was remind herself that he hadn’t even asked for her nu, his last words had struck her as not just “goodbye” but “goodbye and it’s been nice knowing you”

Her face heated at the memory