Chapter 5 // At least I showed up, you showed me nothing at all but heartbreak.

I had the possibility of four shows, three in NYC and one in Chicago. After auditioning in Chicago, I had three more in NYC.  I packed up my things and headed back to NYC, but this time with more security. I walked out of the airport and now that the paps saw me with brown hair, I had wondered how my life was like now.

"LC, how are you doing after Ben Barnes cheated on you?" Dany ushered me into a gated community.

"So this is your new house."

"My what?"

"You are safer here than some penthouse on 23rd and somewhere. You have a car everywhere now because you are Dwayne's sister."

"Okay but why the house? I could have gotten the penthouse."

"Just consider this a gift from Dwayne. He will be here in a few days on a NYC trip and he wants to make sure you're safe."

"Okay fine. I swear, he is like this over protective brother who tells me that short shorts with heels are a hookers look."

"He isn't wrong though?" I laughed at her comment.

I had dialed Ben's number multiple times and wanted to scream at him, but I couldn't push it. I ended up throwing my phone in the trash and wanted a whole new thing. Mel, Dwayne, and Dany rallied for me, new look, new part in NYC as a doctor. I needed this.

"You okay?" Dany asked me handing me a new phone and number.

"I think so, when I get my life back on track." She smiled at me sitting down next to me.

 

"One thing I know about you, you thrive when the ships are coming in. You need to find that again. I secured you a spot with some appearances, the Yankee game you dreamed to go to? You're throwing out the first pitch and going to the  party for CC's charity event."

"When am I doing this?" I asked her.

"Next month. You need to be in the spotlight and this will be good for you and your career."

"Okay sounds good." I said.

"Good, you should talk to Joanna Swisher, Nick's wife? I think you should contact her, she had a bad life before she found Nick."

"Okay. Do you think she will take my calls?"

"Yeah, I told her , you'd call."

I did what Dany asked, I called Joanna. She was the most kindest person ever and gave me a lot of good advice. 

"So when you do go to this whole thing, I will finally meet you." Joanna said. "Plus I heard about Ben, he can stuff it up his own ass with a can of beans to fart it all out."

It must have been the first time I had laughed so hard in a while.

"Now that is the first time I heard that, I think its perfect." I said.

"Good, you have my number, you can call me whenever you need advice."

"Thank you Joanna, you're amazingly awesome and thank you for the laugh, it must be the first time I had a hearty laugh in a while."

"Well thank you, glad I could help." She said.  "You're in NYC now right?"

"Yeah, I have a part on a TV show in September."

"I think we should have lunch tomorrow."

"Oh sounds good to finally get out and be with some friends."

"Oh sweetheart, you are going to love being NYC now."

"Okay sounds good, text me the details and everything."

"Will see you tomorrow." She said

We said goodbye and hung up. I had to find out what to wear now so I face timed my sister.

"Melanie!" I screamed in frantic.

"Calm down, what is the matter?"

"I have a lunch with Joanna Garcia Swisher."

"Who?" I put my hands on my face.

"Nick Swisher's wife and the star of our favorite show Reba?"

"Oh my god, okay okay." She said screaming.

I pulled an outfit together as she gave me some ideas. It was casual , shorts, nice tank top and some heels. I had to look hot, something she can appreciate a good outfit.

"You got this." Mel said.

"First impressions are everything, but you're right." I said.

"Go get some sleep, you need the rest plus you know I will be there in spirit."

"Trust me, I know."

I got ready for bed, I needed the rest, but honestly my mind was crazy. I heard a car alarm that morning, the sun shined through my new curtains and the kitchen smelled like Bacon.

"You do realize I have a lunch date with Joanna right?"

"Yeah, I think you need a piece though."

"I will never turn down bacon for anything." I giggled. "Thank you for everything Dany."

"For?"

"For giving me all this and being with me when I know you have a billion things to do already."

She hugged me and continued to do what she does best.

"You know what I always tell Simone?"

"What?"

"Don't be afraid to take a chance at something , even if you feel like you're not ready, you took a chance at this whole part, its so different and you wanted it. You could have gone to the safe route in Chicago, but you wanted to stay here in NYC and explore this awesome role."

"I think its mainly you, you have given me choices and you give me the most amazing advice. You're my best friend and sister."

"I am always going to be around when you need me the most." I hugged her and I headed upstairs to get ready for my lunch date with Joanna.

My outfit:

I put my heels on and buttoned up my top.

"How do I look?" I asked her.

"Wow, you look more amazing than I would have in that top. I am glad I put it in your closet."

I laughed as I finished my makeup. I breathed in and out and headed out. The car was going to come and pick me up, my two bodyguards, Liam and his twin Lawrence were ready for me and my lunch date.

"Ready Ms. Johnson?"

"Ready." I sighed and headed into the car.

Liam sat next to me while Lawrence had sat in the front with my driver. He turned onto a street with lots of Cafe's. I wanted to be free, so I decided that after lunch, I was heading off to the nearby Jeep dealership.

"I am going to a jeep dealership after we finish lunch."

"Okay." Lawrence said smiling.

I walked into the cafe and saw her sitting outside with Nick. I walked out and I thought Nick was always so gorgeous and damn she was even more beautiful than I had imagined. Liam and Lawrence had taken a table behind us as I smiled and sat down.

"Hi Joanna!" I said smiling .

She hugged me.

"This is LC, this is my husband Nick."

"Hi , nice to finally meet you LC." He said giving me a hug.

"Likewise." We said smiling.

"Anything you would like to drink?" The waiter asked.

"I would love to have a glass of water please."

"Sure thing." He smiled and headed inside.

"LC, did you take the part here in NYC?"

"Yes I did, I am so nervous." I sighed. "I play a doctor on New Amsterdam, now I have to learn all these words and fancy medical things."

"Trust me, you will kill it." Joanna said with Nick in agreement.

As we got to talking, Ben came up to me.

"Excuse me, may I steal LC?"

"No you may not." Liam said getting in between us.

"I have nothing to say to you Ben. Leave me alone."

"I am not done talking to you !" Both Liam, Lawrence and even Nick got up and in between us.

After Ben had left, I was shaken up by his aggressive and his abusive tone.

"Are you okay?" He asked me.

"Yeah, I am. I just need to find a man and move on."

He looked at his wife and smiled. He got up and made a phone call.

"Thank you for not walking out because of Ben." I said to her.

"Don't let that man define you. He is the one man who should be sorry for cheating on you."

"Thank you for everything, I needed that."

Nick had came back, he gave me a list of men who are single and ready to move on from their girlfriends.

"I don't know, am I ready though?"

"You are." They both said.

I sighed.

After everything I had been through, I needed to know if there was anyone better out there. Was I doing the right thing and finally moving on with my life? I wasn't sure if any of these men were right for me. I knew one thing though, I needed to take things slow and let finding someone happen.