The Director's Cut Read Free Page B

interested, now that our show and its lead players had received so much acclaim.
    From the other side of the studio, the children entered with their tutor. Candy, our resident diva-child actress, made a mad dash for the stage and began to belt out a song at the top of her lungs. Behind her, one of the boys gave her a little shove and took her spot center stage, where he began to sing a different song, one I didn’t recognize. Before long, their teacher got them under control and moved them off the stage and toward the classroom.
    As always, my frustrations kicked in as I watched my younger cast members in action. They tended to get under my skin more than I cared to admit. The idea of dealing with small children left me feeling unsettled. Perhaps it was my upbringing with so many siblings. I’d had enough of the chaos and just longed for peace and quiet.
    Then again, how would I ever marry and have kids of my own if I couldn’t even handle the ones I had to direct?
    As little Joey made his way across the stage, he turned to holler something to Ethan, the cast’s youngest. The cup of chocolate milk in his hand shot up in the air and landed on the sofa. Candy let out a squeal. So did their teacher.
    Jason ran toward them. I half expected him to throttle Joey, but instead, he gave him a hug and helped clean up the mess. Before long, Scott, our show’s male star, joined him. Between the three of them, they got the sofa and floor cleaned just as the janitor arrived. Crisis averted.
    â€œKids up to tricks again?”
    I turned as I heard Kat’s voice, taking in her wider-than-ever midsection. Wow. I couldn’t even imagine being that pregnant and still smiling. Yet she managed to do both, and her contented expression looked genuine. Crazy.
    â€œMm-hmm.” I looked at Jason, watching as he wrestled with one of the little boys. “All the kids.”
    Kat chuckled and rubbed her belly. “Heaven help me when this baby girl arrives. I know very little about children.”
    â€œAfter working here for so long?” I turned back to face her. “You of all people should be ready to raise a child.” I pointed to the children of the Stars Collide cast, who had now gathered around Jason and Scott like chicks around a mother hen. “Look what a great job you and Scott have done raising all of them.”
    Kat laughed. “They’re our cast members, not our children.”
    â€œStill, they’ve looked up to you as parental figures for several seasons now.” I gave her a smile. “Don’t worry, Kat,” I said. “You’re going to be a great mom.”
    Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Erin in the hallway, loaded down with scripts. She glanced Jason’s way. He rose and gave her a nod.
    The feelings that swept over me were swift and sudden. Jealousy snaked its way around my heart. Still, it made no sense—especially in light of the fact that Jason and I had started out as mortal enemies. He’d made my first few months in this position a nightmare, in fact. Until a month or so ago, we rarely spoke to each other beyond what was necessary on the set. Now we seemed drawn together by some crazy, invisible force. Well, at least in my imagination.
    Still, the idea that feelings could be stirring inside of me terrified me.
    And excited me.
    Now, to see where those feelings would take me . . .

Minutes after the fiasco with the spilled chocolate milk, I headed into the conference room to wait on the others. Erin arrived in the room, her arms loaded with scripts and her eyes filled with tears.
    â€œSorry.” She sniffled. “I just came from the writers’ room. It took me longer than expected.”
    â€œEveryone okay?” I asked. Surely she hadn’t gotten her feelings wounded this early in the game. If so, then we needed to have a “stiffen that backbone” talk right away. I couldn’t abide a weak,