Chapter Text
"The last one," Dean said as he set a large cardboard box down beside several others scattered throughout the living room. More boxes had already found their way into the other rooms, sorted by category and contents.
"I sent the guys home already," he added, turning to Allie.
She looked around the room and already felt absolutely no desire to start unpacking the mountain of boxes. Packing everything up had been enough work as it was.
She'd fallen in love with the apartment the very first day they'd viewed it, but moving was simply a pain.
She was just considering where to start when her stomach let out a loud growl.
"Yeah, I agree. I could eat something too," Dean chuckled.
Allie looked at him, and they both said at the same time, "pizza?"
And just like that, dinner was decided.
Later, they sat on the carpet between the boxes, leaning against their still-wrapped couch while Allie streamed some random TV show on her laptop, which she'd balanced on top of one of the boxes.
Dean suddenly laughed around another bite of cheese pizza.
Allie glanced over at him. She was pretty sure nothing on the screen had caused that reaction.
"What?" she asked.
"I just..." He shook his head. "I still can't quite believe it."
"Believe what exactly?"
"This. That we're actually living together." He gestured around them. "I mean, I know it's not technically the first time, but... this feels different, doesn't it?"
"Mmm." Allie nodded. "And at the same time, it feels like nothing's changed. It's still us, great pizza, and terrible TV shows." She grinned. But she knew just how much had actually changed.
While Allie was finishing her final year at Briar, Dean completed a teaching certification program and began working part-time as an assistant coach.
After her graduation, they'd lived together for the first time when she'd landed a lead role in a summer theatre production and Dean still had commitments with his team.
Not long after that, she'd booked a supporting role in a romantic comedy. During filming, the distance meant they usually only saw each other every other weekend.
As soon as filming wrapped, they decided to move to New York.
Dean had landed his first full-time coaching job, while Allie had been cast in a television adaptation of a successful book series. Most of the production would be filmed either in New York itself or at studios within commuting distance.
From the beginning, she knew that if the show performed well on streaming, she could be tied to a three-season contract.
It wasn't the lead role. But it wasn't a small one either.
Dean knocked on the bathroom door. "Hey, love, you okay?" he asked.
That morning, she'd practically sprinted out of bed and straight into the bathroom the moment she'd started feeling sick.
A second later, he heard running water, and shortly after that Allie appeared in the doorway.
She looked like she was suffering through the world's worst hangover without having touched a drop of alcohol.
"It's nothing. I think yesterday's pizza just didn't agree with me," she said as she brushed past him and climbed back into bed.
"You're pale. Want me to bring you something?"
Allie shook her head. "No, thanks. I just... want to lie down for a little longer."
Dean let her rest and headed to the kitchen to make breakfast and tea in case she changed her mind. It was their last day off before starting their new jobs.
When Allie still hadn't appeared after quite some time, he went to check on her and found that she'd fallen asleep again. He let her sleep and spent the rest of the morning taking care of a few work-related things.
When Allie finally woke up later that day, she felt considerably better. She reached for her phone, which she'd silenced earlier, and discovered several missed calls and messages from her agent.
The agent Ira had handed his clients over to when he'd moved to Spain with his second wife shortly after their wedding.
At first, Allie had been disappointed. Then she'd realized the woman reminded her of Ira in more ways than one.
She called her back immediately.
"Oh my God, Allie!" her agent blurted out the second she answered, sounding as though she'd been impatiently waiting for the call. "Of all days to disappear! Especially when I have news like this. So? What do you think? Are you in?"
"Uhhh..." Allie rubbed her eyes. "Sorry. I wasn't feeling well. I just woke up. Can you fill me in? I haven't had a chance to read your messages yet."
Her agent sighed dramatically. Then launched straight into it.
"The production team called me this morning. Sarah is stepping away from the project due to some serious personal issues."
"What?" Allie sat up immediately. "But... how is that even possible? Filming starts tomorrow and she's the lead. Are they delaying production until they find a replacement?"
"Actually..." Her agent paused. "Not exactly. They're considering moving you into the role."
Allie froze.
"But it was already getting late an hour ago, so I need to give them an answer as soon as possible. What do you think?"
For a moment, she couldn't find any words. "But... I..." she breathed. "I don't know a single line." That was somehow the first concern that came to mind.
"Oh, don't worry about that. You've read the books. It'll be basically the same thing... probably."
Allie could practically picture her casually waving a hand as though this were no big deal.
Easy for you to say.
"The important question is whether you'd want the role."
Allie's heart was pounding. A lead role was a big deal. She still wasn't particularly well-known. This could be the opportunity that finally launched her career.
"Allie, honey, please start saying your thoughts out loud."
"Sorry." She let out a nervous laugh. "You caught me off guard. This is happening really fast. It's a huge responsibility." She couldn't quite believe how sensible she sounded.
"And it's a huge opportunity. The kind you've been waiting for for years, isn't it?"
"Yeah." She swallowed. "It is."
"So? Should I call them back? It might already be too late, but I can try."
At that moment Dean appeared in the bedroom doorway, immediately noticing her wide-eyed expression.
"Give me one second," Allie said, covering the microphone.
"They're offering me the lead role," she blurted out. "Should I do it?"
Dean looked surprised. Then he smiled. "If you want it, then of course."
No hesitation. No doubt. Exactly the reassurance she'd needed.
She lifted the phone back to her ear. "Okay," she said. "I'll do it."
"Fantastic. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything."
And with that, her agent ended the call without so much as a goodbye.
Allie lowered her phone and looked at Dean.
He was already smiling. "Too early for congratulations?"
"I wouldn't get ahead of ourselves just yet."
"They couldn't have found anyone better for the part."
She smiled. "You always say that."
"Because it's always true."
He crossed the room and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"I'm happy about every role you get. Especially the ones you actually enjoy playing." He grinned. "And you know I'm your number one fan."
Allie tilted her head, suddenly touched. Unable to resist, she kissed him. Dean brushed a hand through her hair.
"Feeling better?"
"Oh." For a moment she'd completely forgotten how sick she'd felt that morning. "Yeah, actually. I feel great." She smiled. "Although I'm starving."
Dean laughed. "Yeah? Check the fridge."
Allie kissed him again. "You're the best."
Later that day, while checking her email on her phone to see if there had been any update from the production team, she noticed an app she hadn't opened in surprisingly long time.
Her period tracker.
A knot formed in her stomach as she tapped the icon and realized she was late. She took a deep breath, trying to remember whether she'd simply forgotten to log her last period.
The past few weeks had been hectic, after all. Moving, learning her lines, several visits to see her sick father...
Then she remembered how sick she'd felt that morning.
She shook her head at the very idea of being pregnant. She was on birth control. There had to be plenty of other explanations.
And yet, a few minutes later, she found herself leaving the apartment and heading to the nearest pharmacy.
Allie picked up the phone lying beside her and answered the call.
"I have absolutely amazing news!" her agent's voice practically burst through the speaker. "You got the role!"
Allie couldn't manage a single word, even though she'd spent most of the day waiting for that call.
Somehow, all of it had been overshadowed by the fact that she was currently sitting in the bathroom, leaning against the bathtub, staring at a pregnancy test displaying two unmistakable pink lines.