Chasin' Eight (Rough Riders 11)

“Am I on conference call?”

“Of course. I’m tired of hearing about your life third or fourth hand,” her mother chastised.

“Yeah, so why don’t you tell us firsthand how in the devil you hooked up with a bull rider?” her father prompted.

She tried to keep things light lest she start bawling again. “I take offense to your term ‘hook up’ Dad.”

“You know what I meant. Start talking.”

“I met Chase McKay in Wyoming through Ginger Paulson. I traveled with him on the rodeo circuit for a few weeks and he came to New York with me.”

“Bull riding is a damn dangerous job.”

You don’t know the half of it.

“What’s he like?” her mother asked. “Because I’m sure the pictures in the papers don’t do him justice. He looks buff. Mysterious.”

“Oh, for the love of God, Eileen, really? This is the direction you’re taking this conversation?” he demanded.

“If your father is offended by the graphic details you want to share with your mama about that hot cowboy’s attributes, we’ll kick him off the line.”

Her dad snorted. “As glad as I am you called, Daughter, this is where I hang up.” Click.

Her mother snickered. “Too easy. Now. Spill your guts because this Chase guy. He’s the one, isn’t he? That’s the reason you’re keeping him to yourself.”

Just like that, Ava broke down. She wished she could crawl through the phone line onto her mother’s lap. “I never thought I’d find someone like him. He’s the best friend I’ve ever had and he drives me crazy. He’s bossy and so sweet that I melt whenever he touches me even when I want to scream at him. I’m so in love with him it’s scary. And funny. And pathetic. And what the hell am I gonna do?”

“Does he feel the same way?”

“He says he did, until… I don’t know how to explain because it still doesn’t feel wrong to me. I think he’s overreacting, but he’s pissed off. And he just left.”

“Tell me what happened.” After she finished, her mother said, “Hmm,” not in a good way.

“What?” Ava blew her nose. “Am I a spoiled brat who doesn’t think of anyone but myself?”

“Sometimes. But as human beings, we’re all like that. I understand why he’s upset. You took something very personal and intend to turn it into something public without consulting him. So he’s questioning your motives, and he probably fears you’ve been acting with him this entire time.”

Ava felt like she could throw up because Chase had said that very thing. “I wasn’t. I love him. I told him I love him. And he took off anyway.”

“Isn’t that callback from the PBR what he’d been waiting for?”

“Yes, but—”

“This is his career, Ava. You, of all people, should understand that. If the situation were reversed? If your agent had called during the fight? What would you have done? Taken off, the same thing Chase did.”

“Don’t be so sure about that.”

Silence. “Really? Well, that’s new. Tell me about it.”

Ava talked about what she’d seen and experienced over the last few weeks and how it’d changed her, not only personally but career-wise. It felt good to bounce ideas off her mom, because she defined savvy businesswoman.

“I’m proud of you, Ava. I’ve always been proud of you even when I didn’t understand your love of show business. But I’m happy to hear you’ve figured out you’re more than an actress and want to try other things within the industry. I’d be happier yet if you asked to come to work for me.”

Ava laughed and sniffled. “No way. We’d kill each other.”

“Probably. Anyway, I’m also happy that you found your other half.” Her mom got quiet for a second. “My life would be hollow without your father in it. Having a successful career is great, but being in a loving relationship is even better. So back to the Chase issue…”

“What should I do?”

“Give him time. Don’t call him, don’t text him, don’t IM him, don’t email him.”

“Mom. I don’t think playing games will work.”

“Oh, this isn’t a game. This is a way to show him what a big hole his life will have without you in it. You’ve been joined at the hip for almost two months. Let him miss you, sweetie. Let yourself know what it’s like to really miss him.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“And if that doesn’t work? Go with plan B.”

Her mother, businesswoman extraordinaire, always had a backup plan. “And what is that?”

“Track him down, tie him up and force him to listen to reason. It helps if you’re naked. And holding beer.”

“Ah, Mom. I don’t think that will work.”

“It sure did with your dad. Good luck, sweetie, keep in touch.”

Ava packed her bag and booked a commercial flight to LA.

“Why am I so nervous?” Ava asked Hannah, two days later.

“I’ll tell you what I think after the audition.” Hannah straightened Ava’s miniskirt for the third time.

“That’s not helping my nerves.” She tried not to think that Chase would know exactly what to say to her to calm her down. The door to the conference room opened and a long-legged blond strolled out. “We’re ready for you, Miss Cooper.”

Ava squeezed Hannah’s hand and followed Corporate Casting Barbie into the conference room. Well, at least this production company didn’t have the clichéd casting couch. Ava chose the chair directly in the middle, across from the desk of the three executives who were too busy on their phones to acknowledge her.

Finally another blonde met Ava’s gaze and smiled coolly. “I’m Nina Beal. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Cooper. I was a huge fan of Miller’s Ridge. Pity it got cancelled.”

“Thank you.”

The man sporting a Groucho Marx mustache peered at her over the top of his glasses. “We’ve cast the two stars of this show. We’re casting secondary characters. The part you’re being considered for is Mamie’s best friend, Sally.”

“Sally is the opposite of our quirky, fun-loving, serial dating, always-finding-man-trouble main character, Mamie,” the other man, who looked like Woody Allen’s younger, nerdier brother, inserted.