I let out a long breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. This was the longest period of my life, I swore, but now it was over. Maybe, if the film did well, and I felt that I could finally release it into the care of the studio and screenwriter, I wouldn't have to do this again.

My things were packed, the puppies in their crates, and I was waiting for the realtor to come take the keys back from me. I was leaving Georgia to go home for a good long time. Well, at least until my publisher convinced me to do another book tour. I thought I'd simply feel relieved, but it was bittersweet too.

I'd met Bash and Tony in Georgia. I'd settled things with Sean here. I'd gotten to know Norman here. I'd become friends with Diane, and Mingus counted me among the adults he'd text for advice. Hell, even Mingus' mom, Helena called me from time to time. I Skyped with Norman's baby girl. I kept up with all the things that each and every one of them were doing. While leaving Georgia was getting rid of some stress, it was also leaving a part of my life behind. Luckily, they'd stay in touch.

Mingus made me promise to give him a tour of Disney World and Universal, even if he'd had that tour a million times, he wanted it from a "local". He wanted to take his baby sister there, and see her light up at the princesses. I promised, along with telling him about Dinosaur World that was closer, and a few other attractions that were nearer where I actually lived.

And as I handed the keys to the realtor, I got into the car and tried hard to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill. This wasn't the end. Hell, I'd be lucky if my phone didn't explode from the texts and calls I would have to keep up with. And yet, as the house I rented grew smaller and smaller, I still felt the sadness threaten to overwhelm me.

SIX MONTHS LATER

As I suspected, the texts and calls came fast and furious. Then one day I got two ominous texts back to back from Sean and then Norman.

J-You're gonna get a call from a LA number, answer it. Trust me. Say yes.

The one from Norman was a little clearer, but not much.

Hey girl, so Duffy is gonna give ya a ring. What he asks ya, just say sure. Trust me.

Duffy? Troy Duffy? The writer and director of Boondock Saints, Troy Duffy? I was curious, but also worried. Anytime anyone said "Trust me", usually followed a choice I'd rather not trust. Still, I was intrigued. As far as anyone knew, Duffy was writing a third movie. Maybe he wanted fresh eyes for writing cleanup. Sure, that would work.

A few days later, I heard the phone ring and answered it without looking at the number. I was in the middle of editing so I barely registered the first words out of the person's mouth. So I stopped trying to multitask.

"I'm sorry, could you repeat yourself for me?" I asked, turning away from my screen, lest I be tempted again.

A deep throaty chuckle answered me. "They told me you get a little distracted. I said, 'hey, I'm Troy Duffy, the boys told you I'd be callin'?'"

I rolled my eyes at those two asses. "Yeah, sorry, I was in the middle of editing. Hello, Mr. Duffy. What can I do for you?"

Another chuckle, this time deeper and longer. "Right to the point. I like that." I could hear him shuffling papers. "I have this part, in the third movie, that both Flanery and Reedus think was written specifically for you."

I felt my face drop in a frown. "A part? In your movie?" I asked, trying to make the words make some sort of actual sense. "I'm a writer, Mr. Duffy, not an actress."

"Well, I know that, and you know that, but these two, well they're insisting." He sighed. "I can't make this movie without them. You and I both know that. Humor them, and me, and say you'll read for it? Then if you aren't up for it, they'll move on and I can cast someone else. Fair?"

I sighed, long and loud. I may have muttered about being stupid enough to be friends with the two of them because Duffy laughed again. "Fine. When and where?"

He gave me a time, and a place that was near where I'd stayed my first trip to LA. I agreed to meet him there, but before he said goodbye he laughed and said, "I have a feeling you're gonna be disappointed, doll, they have their heart set on you in this."

I didn't have time to say a word, he just hung up. Damn it. What have I agreed to now?

Tabbi thought it was hilarious. She wished she could witness what was sure to be the most awkward experience of my life. Unfortunately, she had to be in Colorado, during winter. I'd usually feel bad about that, but she was being a shit, so I enjoyed watching her pack heavy winter wear while extolling the sadness I felt at deciding which bathing suit to pack.

"You suck," she said, tossing a pair of thick woolen socks at me. "You keep getting the warm climates to work in and my job's going to send me to Antarctica next."

"Nah," I disagreed, tossing the socks into her suitcase. "They don't really have that many people up there that have 401K accounts."

She rolled her eyes and tossed herself onto her bed. "So, what's the part?"

"It doesn't look like it's much of a part, really." I'd been sent the script, well part of it, to study. "She's a defense attorney who meets with them in the prison. That's really it." I shrugged, wondering if I were missing more than the rest of the script. "Guess because I'm sort of smart, they tossed me a bone."

"How much of the script did you get?" Tab asked, looking over at me.

"No clue." I answered. "Makes sense, these movies are cult classics. If I don't get it, no one can accuse me of leaking the whole thing online out of spite."

"But that means there could be more to your character." She said, watching my face. Seeing me pale at the thought, she reminded me of the couple of times I'd been in plays in high school. "It's not the same as public speaking, you said so yourself, remember?"

I nodded, but still felt a little sick. "I hope to God it's simple." Then I gave a giggle. "Sean and Norman and simple don't seem to work together do they?"

She grinned at me. "If you'd stop acting like their own, more adorable version of Jiminy Cricket, they wouldn't get you into these messes."

I rolled my eyes. "Fuck off." I stood up. "Have a safe trip. I have to go home and pack for my own." Giving her a quick hug and giving her a parting shot. "Don't freeze your tits off!"

I met Troy Duffy in a little room off of another smaller room. It wasn't all glitz and glamour, and I was thankful for that, because I was certain I was wasting everyone's time. We were exchanging pleasantries when the door opened and the two men who got me in this mess walked in. I glared at the two of them.

"See," Sean said, grinning at my obvious ire. "Told ya she had fire."

Norman shook his head, he pulled me in for a hug. "She's irritable because she has to deal with your ass, Sean." He whispered in my ear. "You alright?"

I nodded and pulled back. Sean enveloped me in another hug and I stiffened for a beat, having not had physical contact with him for almost three years. Then I realized it would look strange so I let go of my uptight shit. He felt nice, of course, he'd always feel nice. "Had to get ya here. This part is YOU, Jessa." His breath played against my skin.

"Sure, guys, now you wonder if I'm fine." I pulled away and playfully smacked the two of them. "Let's get this over with."

I went to my bag to open the script pages I'd printed off from the email Duffy sent me, but he stopped me. "Actually, that was an early draft." He handed me fresh pages and had me look over them for a moment. "This is the rewrite."

As I read, my face started to burn. Those assholes. "Wait," I said, holding up a hand. "I thought the character was a defense attorney?"

"She is," Duffy said, smiling at me. "She just evolves a bit."

"Into what?" I asked, reading more of the part I was supposed to play. "A sex obsessed doll?" I looked up and glared at the three of them. "That's a dirty trick from you three."

Duffy looked confused. "No, she's-" He stopped and sat at the cluster of chairs and gestured for us to take a seat. It no doubt didn't escape his attention that each man sat on either side of me. "Let me explain the part to you, her motivation." And he did. I found myself understanding, she wasn't what I took her for from the pages he'd handed me, but I still wasn't sure I could do the part justice. "Try. If it doesn't look or feel right, we'll move on to someone else." He assured me. "I have to tell you, I'm starting to agree with these two assholes, though, you're good for this."

And so, standing, I gave my first attempt at real acting.

MOMENTS LATER

"You guys were right," Duffy said, staring wide eyed at the spot where I'd 'performed'. "She's the one. Shit, thought the room would catch fire."

I was blushing again. I could feel the burn. "Jesus." I sighed, sitting down on the first chair I came to. "Tell me there's more to her than that? For real?"

Sean and Norman reseated themselves on either side. "Yeah, she's intrical to their escape." Sean answered, rubbing my back in what he must have thought would be soothing.

"Her backstory is amazing, the reason she aligns with the MacManus brothers." Norman reiterated, nodding and reaching for my hand. "There's more to her, and damn, wait until you see the credit scene."

Duffy offered me the part, and I realized this was a once in a lifetime offer. "If it starts to look like I'm ruining this damn movie, I mean it, you have to shit can me. Understand?" He nodded, but didn't look convinced that I could ruin it. Shit, more expectations. "OK. I'll do it."

"Get ready to pack for Canada." Duffy said, smiling so big I thought his face would split.