Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler Page B

indispensable.”
    Everyone’s quiet for a moment, and then Ally snaps her fingers. “Okay, I know Van’s gonna kill me for suggesting this, but I think I might have a slightly brilliant idea.” She turns to Liam. “What if you got a guest star to be a love interest for Bailey? Like, a multi-episode arc? Would they let you go then?”
    Liam shrugs. “It’s not impossible, I guess.”
    â€œNo, definitely not,” I agree, taking a sip from my own shake. “But if you write off or de-bang-ify a show’s biggest piece of ass, you have to provide a replacement of equal or greater bangability. So, who?”
    Uh oh. She’s turning scary, determined Ally face on me. “You.”
    â€œMe?”
    â€œYou.” She turns to Holly. “He doesn’t actually have any work lined up right now, does he?”
    â€œNo, he does not,” Holly confirms, her voice sweet, as if she’s not pissed I screwed up that one audition and then refused to go to any others. “But TV…”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with TV?” Ally asks bluntly, cutting a glance at Liam.
    â€œIt’s a lesser form of entertainment,” Liam informs her, rolling his eyes. “Clearly, you’re just blind to my pathetic-ness because you like my body.”
    â€œOh, man, this is awkward. I’m not sure if I still want to make out with you after this.” She taps her mouth thoughtfully. “No, wait, I definitely do.”
    Holly ignores them both. “If you’d just read one of the scripts I brought you at dinner—”
    â€œI’ve read them,” says Ally. “Which one of those is a higher form of entertainment, exactly? The one where he’d have to play a prince in a complete crap-fest of a misogynistic Disney-wannabe movie? Or the absurdly pseudo-intellectual one that subtly advocates for eugenics?”
    My eyebrows shoot up faster than my dick at the Playboy mansion. Ally must
really
want this for Liam; she never talks that much shit about potential projects on the table.
    Holly scowls. “I think you’d better leave decisions about his projects to your boss.”
    â€œI don’t know; I think I just made my decisions about those.” I grin at Holly before pouring half the shake down my throat. Sometimes it’s easier just to get rid of all the shit at once.
    She smiles tightly. “Okay, then. I’ll send you some more tomorrow.” She stands, and Ally immediately steps aside, as if removing any obstacles to the door will get Holly out faster. Their passive-aggressive smile-off is a thing of beauty as Holly sees herself out.
    â€œWell, that was unexpected,” Liam says, amused. “Thanks for the shake, by the way.”
    â€œIs it as gross as it looks?”
    â€œWorse.” He takes a final sip and tosses it in the trash, then turns to me. “I gotta go. But are you really interested in a guest arc? I could talk to Mickey.”
    I still haven’t really processed the idea, but I know if it helps him out, I’d at least consider it. Especially since his costar, Zoe Knight, is semi-hot, and I haven’t tapped her yet. “You think it’ll help you be able to take the Lassiter part if you get it?”
    â€œNo clue. I’ll let you know how it goes. Can I jump in the shower before I head out?”
    â€œYou better. Don’t need your car smelling like BO next time I’m in it.” I wait until he’s closed the door to my personal locker room and run the shower, and then I turn to Ally. “You really think this is a better idea than doing one of those movies? Or are you just trying to make your boyfriend happy?”
    â€œI think you need something to do that’ll keep your mom’s reality show crew away from you during the day, and you care more about helping Liam than you do what role you take on next,” she says coolly. “And, frankly, it’s a