"Elijah, Riley, Aubrey! Today you three will have a second meeting with the man who is actually adopting. Remember that the last meeting y'all had was with his boyfriend," Plastic smile.
We sat there on the couch and waited one by one to be called to the audition, our number dwindling till it was just me.
"Riley, Come on!" Plastic smile.
I walked past ms. Hanson and into the den where I was met with a great sight, but I had to act cool.
"Oh my god." Was that out loud?
"Problem, hun?" She kept the smile.
"Your Andrew Rannells. The Andrew Rannells."
"Yes, yes I am!" The tall, brown haired, adorable, man sitting in front of me replied. Genuine smile.
"Have you two met?" Ms. Hanson seemed concerned that I knew a forty something year old man by name and dropped the smile for a slightly disgusted look.
"Umm," I couldn't give away that I had a tablet, she would be really upset. But what did I care? If I got adopted then I wouldn't need it and I'm not going to give it to Elijah anymore so what the hell. "So, I may have a tablet that I was watching musicals on. Mr. Rannells here, is a Broadway actor and has been in some excellent musicals. So no, we haven't." She'd kill me if Andrew wasn't here. Lucky dink I guess.
"Uh huh, right, well, I'll leave y'all to it." She left the room.
"So Riley, tell me about yourself!" Real smile.
"Well, I've been here since I was really young and have no memory of my family. I love musical theater although I've never seen one live. I like books. I heard you wrote one,"that was a train reck.
"Ya I did, have you read it?" He was so sweet.
"No but I'd love to! I hear it's great!"
"Well, thank you."
The room when quiet. I would ask him about himself but I already know about him. I needed this interview. There was no way I would let Elijah get adopted over me. Petty, I know, but this is Andrew Rannells so I had to come up with something good.
"So tell me about what the stage and cameras don't see. I mean what do you like to do apart from all that," oh god, I sounded like a therapist.
"Well, right now Tuc, my boyfriend, you've met, is in town so we spend our time playing with his kids but when we can get away we like reading books together or slow dancing to old music. When he's not around though, I enjoy hanging with friends and family, virtually or in person, whatever works out. And my favorite food is cheese," he listed.
"Wow, I didn't know you had a boyfriend till now, he seems nice."
"Ya he's really sweet and the kids are a handful but they're fun. I think you'll like them," he shifted the topic back to me.
"I can't wait to meet them! I've given it some thinking about and at first I was hesitant to the sort of older sibling relationship we'd have but I think I like the arrangement," I grinned, thinking of the fun we could have.
"Well good, I hope they'll give you a chance. I know I will!" He smiled a warm genuine glow. I kept my grin and we just looked at each other for a moment. It sounds weird but it was the first real love and affection I'd really felt in a while and I think he could tell because ms. Hanson had to be the one to break the silence.
"Hey!" Her piercing, perfect smile barging it's way into the room, making both of us break the connection to look at her. My face immediately falling and Andrew's slipping a little at the sight of her. "How did it go?"
"Really well, I think!" The tall, brunette man answered.
"Yup," I continued, "really well!"
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I'm getting kind of board writing the beginning of this but we'll be on to the fun stuff soon! Please vote and comment.
