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Jessica had forgotten to text Sarah to let her know she had arrived at the hotel. Her mind was everywhere except on her phone, so she didn’t even think about using it—not yet. Time moved too slowly. She knew she might be overreacting, but Sarah had a kind of power over her that she never thought possible. The thought of someone else making her laugh, making her feel excited, haunted the older woman.

She was alone, calm—but as soon as Sarah walked through the door, Jessica felt a wave of anxiety. She was about to face her and confess everything she had been feeling and thinking for the past few weeks. “I bet it was,” Jessica said weakly when Sarah mentioned that lunch had been good. “She’s a nice woman. I’m not that nice—I got annoyed by her constant optimism” she admitted, perhaps a little too harshly toward her colleague. “But she looks good. Better than I remembered” she added, her pulse quickening as Sarah moved closer, just barely brushing against her. “I went for a walk, like I said. The city is nice” she murmured, then paused, staring at Sarah as she sat at the edge of the bed. Jessica sat beside her, remaining silent for a few moments. She let out a deep sigh, and without looking at her, she spoke brutally honest, as always. “I thought… I think… you might be having an affair with Glen,” she said. "I have been there before, too many times. I've accepted it and i've lived in that kind of relationships and I might have been okay with it but I don't think I can handle it again...not with you and i know the idea of getting married can be scary, after all this time of being a free time but you should be honest with me. I am a big girl. I can deal with everything"

It was that sudden abruption from her fiancée, that fleeting moment, that confirmed to Sarah there was, in fact, something off about this lunch with Glenn. She just hadn’t realised the full extent of it until her frown softened into something sadder, more vulnerable.She felt the brief kiss land on her cheek, her hand instinctively finding Jess’s and holding it, just for a moment.“sweetheart...” Her voice was tender, laced with quiet worry.And yet, Sarah knew...whether Jess’s reason for leaving was flimsy or not, there was something unspoken in her eyes that made Sarah stay in her seat. That look alone said enough.“Just…” she paused, letting out a soft, careful breath, “please let me know when you get back to the hotel.”

Sarah passed Jess’s message along to Glenn as the woman made her way back to their table, quick apologies, a warm smile, and a promise to send her love.The rest of the lunch left Sarah feeling slightly off. Not enough to bring up, thankfully, but enough to linger like background noise. The next two hours dragged on, feeling much longer than they were.By the time she returned to their hotel room, the weight of the afternoon still hung over her. As the key clicked into the door and it creaked open, she was met with a comforting sight: her fiancée, now looking noticeably more relaxed. “hey, you…” Sarah greeted softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she stepped inside, slipping off her jacket and hanging it on the coat rack.“It was… nice.”Her shoulders dipped slightly, as if the words carried a weight she wasn’t ready to unpack. A half-truth, maybe. She cleared her throat, the motion stirring that same thoughtful, slightly saddened frown she’d worn just before Jess had left. “What’d you really get up to after you left?” Sarah asked, her voice gentle but curious as she nodded toward Jess, then pointed playfully at her head. “And I need to know what was going on up here.”She sank onto the edge of the bed, eyes never leaving Jess’s face.“Not only was I confused…” she added, voice softening, “but you had me worried.”Her head tilted slightly, searching Jess’s gaze, hoping for something honest in return.

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Jessica: I’m sure Sarah would trade a game for a late-night show if it were about her — and those initials sound fucking great! Jessica: I didn’t know that story. I knew you had been married before, but not how complicated things got. You were really young when you first met her, and you had a long-term relationship — and two daughters! A whole life with that person. What a relief that things are easier now and that you have a good relationship with her. I’m sure she’s happy now because you’re happy — and if you are, then your daughters will have the best life. Age-gap relationships aren’t exactly the easiest — I know that pretty well. A few years ago, when my friendship with Sarah changed and we took the next step, I started to realize that. And trust me, sometimes I get scared that things might become complicated because of that difference. Hopefully that won’t happen anytime soon — I really don’t want to be one of those statistics and get divorced three months after the wedding. Jessica: you finally found the perfect balance between work and your wonderful family, darling. That's not easy but you've grown up, you have been through a lot and you found the right person to be this kind of man, completely devoted to his family.

AARON: move on over jimmy kimmel, jimmy fallon and all the other late night talks show hosts....SPL is in the building and changing the game, lol. who wouldn't love to sign them with those initials? AARON: of course! i don't mind you asking about what happened with my previous marriage and don't mind talking about it either. honestly, i was seventeen when i met her and was pretty infatuated with her. we connected almost instantly on the set of a movie i was starring in and she was producing. we go together, got engaged had our two daughters and then married. it was great but there was such a large age gap between the two of us...i just felt my life was pulling me in a different direction but i was trying to remain faithful to our vows. but working with other people over the years, i felt things i had never felt when with my ex. so, i kind of realize that it was being in love, it was just loving a person. which wasn't fair to either one of us. so, i asked for us to separate and when i was able to be on my own and see what i truly wanted...i then asked for a divorce. it was ugly for about a year and a half. she'd get wind of me dating other women and make it hell. threaten to take my girls away. but we have come a long now and we have love for one another because of our girls but we just weren't meant to be together forever. my forever is meant to be with josephine. AARON: that sounds like an incredible first wedding though! but i know for a fact that this wedding will be the best one and worth it all. and i can't wait to tear the dance floor up with you and sarah on your big night. AARON: family definitely comes first and always will with me. i love my work and the craft but nothing will come before my family.

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PRIVATE: Oh! A football player? That’s quite interesting. There’s always something about athletes that makes them really fascinating. I’m sure it took you by surprise, but a baby can be something truly exciting — well, this is coming from a woman who feels like she was born to be a mom.

He’s younger, I see. Well, eight years is nothing if you compare it to other couples with a twenty-year age gap — like that crazy actress Sarah Paulson, who’s with someone much older. She’s insane!

So, you're not officially together? And how do you feel about him? Do you have feelings — real feelings — for him? I’m great! The whole wedding thing has turned me into someone even more complicated, but I guess that’s just part of the stress.

PRIVATE: Oh, I know, which is why opening up to you and seeking your guidance feels right. I realise I was too vague before, my apologies, darling. No, Josh isn’t an actor, he’s a quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. The whole thing was quite the surprise, especially considering he’s eight years younger than me. And, as you said, I’m in the middle of a whirlwind moment career-wise, so the timing wasn’t exactly ideal… but I’m happy. Really happy. I can’t wait to be a mum, even if the thought still terrifies me sometimes. Things between Josh and me are actually good! I’m not entirely sure what label to give it just yet, we’re figuring it out, taking things day by day. But enough about me, how are you? How’s the wedding planning going? I need all the details.

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Jessica: Is she doing Tennessee Williams? God! You know I’m passionate about his work and his plays — I can never get enough of them. I need to see Liz on stage. Is she playing Eva? I definitely need to be in the audience. Jessica: You're good at keeping secrets, darling. I can’t blame you. She's already three months old? Why does time go by so fast? I’m good, darling — I’ve been spending time with my kids and Sarah while we keep planning the wedding. No one told me it would be such a long process! At the same time, I’m still working on this project about Marlene Dietrich and trying to find a distributor for Long Day’s Journey Into Night.

Jason: I can handle a little pain in my ass. You're a busy lady, I totally understand. She's going to be in a production of the Tennessee Williams play Not About Nightingales, it'll be at the NikosStage Theater in Williamstown, MA from 07/17 to 08/03. She's fantastic on stage, I got to see her in Pretty Perfect Lives last year. Yeah, I've been keeping the secret in for a while, now it's finally out there.. I can't tell you that without giving away the story. It's a top secret location. The kids are thriving, they're on summer break right now; growing like weeds, I can hardly believe Etta is 3 months old already. How's the lady? I miss her too!

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Jessica: Well, darling, if I'm being brutally honest, I've gone full-on crazy. I feel bad for Sarah — she has to deal with this crazy woman over here! Do you think it's normal? Does this stage end at some point before the big event? Jessica: But, how are you? how is everything, darling?

𝓽𝓮𝔁𝓽 ➝ 𝓳𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓬𝓪.

zoë: alright, so i’ve already been bombarding sarah about all the wedding (!!!) excitement... and now it’s your turn, lady! give me the goods. how’s everything going? is the planning chaos under control, or are we in full-on crazy mode? i’m all ears!

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Jessica was losing her patience. She wasn’t exactly an easygoing person—especially when something made her uncomfortable. She was transparent, and it was obvious to everyone at the table that she wasn’t okay—especially to Sarah, who was caught off guard by Jess’s attitude. She hadn’t seen it coming. But this had been slowly building up since Sarah left to film that show, and Jessica started hearing and reading about Glen more and more often.

Jessica swallowed and ran her fingers through her soft blond locks, trying to appear calm. She let out a sigh. Maybe Sarah was right. Maybe she was overreacting, and Sarah hadn’t done anything wrong. But Jessica couldn’t shake her uncertainty—her fear that Sarah might be having second thoughts, or that she had a weakness for women like Glen. Maybe she missed the thrill of the new. Those thoughts were unfair—Sarah wasn’t Sam but Jessica’s mind was playing tricks on her, feeding her fear of losing Sarah whenever she saw a potential threat.

Jessica stayed quiet for a few seconds. Then she looked at Sarah and smiled. “You’re right. We can talk about it, but later… Could you excuse me with Glen? I don’t feel well, and I forgot I need to call Ilse before her show tonight. I’m not hungry, so why don’t you stay and enjoy lunch with Glen? I’ll be at the hotel” Jessica placed a hand on Sarah’s cheek and softly kissed the other one. “I’m sorry” she whispered as she stood up, silently begging Sarah not to follow her and to stay with Glen. Jessica had already been rude enough to deserve Sarah’s frustration, and she needed to walk and clear her mind before messing things up further.

She spent about an hour outside, wandering the city. The fresh air and observe people in the city served as a kind of therapy for her. This time, she didn’t take any pictures. She just walked, and walked, until her legs felt tired. When she finally returned to the hotel, it was past six. She took a long bath, hoping to relax and stop overthinking. She regretted everything. She hated feeling guilty, hated being rude—but more than anything, she hated being jealous. When Jessica stepped out of the bathroom, her wet hair wrapped in a towel and her body in a bathrobe, she heard the hotel room door open.

It was time to face Sarah again. "hey. How was lunch and the rest of the evening?"

Sarah tilted her head, her eyes remained soft, but the faint frown spreading across her face made it clear....she was searching "Jess...come on" she paused "I've known you for over a decade and you expect me, your now fiancée-to not pick up on what you're putting down ? "She gave a quiet laugh, light, but not dismissive "you know there's a real difference between asking question's and interrogating, right, sweetheart ? " It wasn’t a harsh dig , just Sarah meeting Jessica exactly where she was, on the same wavelength. Reaching for her freshly refilled glass of wine, Sarah’s shoulders lifted in a subtle shrug as the rim brushed her lips.

"and yes...me and glenn are close, we are. And if that really is suddenly a problem we'll talk about it. I just think I’d prefer that over watching, you know, you work this signature jess way of smiling while turning someone into dust with a single sentence like a knife.” She glanced down at her wine, then back up, her lips twitching at the corners. Practically grateful for Glenn's continued absence. "If you can look me in the eye's and tell me i'm being far off here, i'll drop it....so please, correct me if i'm wrong."

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Jessica realized she was being too rough—maybe even too obvious. Suddenly, she noticed that her old toxic ways weren’t entirely gone. The wounds caused by past loved ones were still easily triggered by certain things. This time, the pressure brought on by the shift in their relationship status was growing, and the fear of losing what she loved most lingered—especially with the presence of what she considered “competition,” as she had been thinking about Glenn a lot lately.

“Oh, that one? With Kim… right.” Jessica smiled, nodded, and shrugged. “It seemed fun. You two have a lot of fun together. I’m almost jealous… almost—but not enough to make me want to step onto a TV set again… not for now,” she said softly, her fingertips lightly touching her glass as her mind wandered, until Glenn excused herself. Jessica watched her walk away. Then she heard Sarah’s voice pulling her back to the table. “Uh? What do you mean, darling?” she said, as if she didn’t know Sarah had noticed her mood and the attitude she had shown toward her friend. “I’m just asking questions. Normal questions about two best friends who spend a lot of time together. What’s wrong with that?”

Sarah's attention bounced back and forth like a slow tennis rally, her expression caught somewhere between polite interest and a quietly amused wince by glenn's comments, right before their drink's appeared upon the table. And for the younger woman's sake, she was very glad it was lunchtime happy hour.

‘Oh well, only with the memorable ones, dear. And I think you'd agree, Sarah certainly has that quality...just like all the ladies on that set. and i think it's fair to say that's not a common thing to be said within today's industry’ Glenn leaned in, a hint of laughter, making herself comfortable at the table, locking eyes with both women.

Sarah’s wine glass felt like a shield, her eyes fixed on the liquid as her breathless chuckle slowly faded, only to creep back at Jess’s reaction. To Glenn, it seemed simple enough just Jess’s usual playful attitude. But the younger actress had a keen ear for her fiancée’s tone, picking up even the slightest shift, no matter how small the hint of tension. "‘Sweetheart…’ Sarah’s words came out like a breathless laugh, her head tilting as she looked at Jess. ‘do you not remember ? I’m pretty sure I told you,’ she added, a curious frown creasing her brow. ‘I sent you the photo of the matching cast robes that kim gifted ? ’ Sarah simply shook her head, brushing it off with a small, amused smile, before subtly nudging Jess’s foot. It was light, almost unnoticeable, but still a quiet little message only they would catch."

"I'm surprised sarah hasn’t managed to change your mind..." glenn joked "yes please, darling" her glass being pushed toward's the blonde

"trust me, i've tried — that's a sleepover for one when i tell her i'm watching tootsie " sarah lifted her shoulders, the scrunch upon her expression far more noticeable,' "isn't that right, honey ? " sarah gave a tight smile, her attention flickering back toward's jess, even through softened eye's

"ladies, please excuse me, i've gotta freshen up' it was fleeting, the smile's both herself and jess clearly passed toward's glenn as she momentarily left the table.

"what are you up to ? " Sarah leaned into her palm, her elbow on the table as she shifted toward Jess, eyes narrowing with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. Her gaze was sharp, playful but with something more beneath it, as if she was challenging her fiancée to reveal what she was hiding. Sarah could read Jess like a book...and sometimes, a little too well.

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Jessica: be careful with what you wish for Jason. I can become a little pain in your ass if I become this kind of friend who is putting pressure on you. -I am kidding. I am not that kind of person but I can try to be a little bit more present. That's amazing. Liz in a play? where? I would love to see her on stage! and Ted Lasso 4? finally! where are you filming? It's wonderful to know you're living your best life. you deserve it! how are the kiddos?

Jason: Please put pressure on me, I love talking to you! I'd love to have lunch one day if you have the time to spare while you're here. We're all good here, busy on the farm, busy at work! Liz has some work coming up with a new movie and a play next month, and I'll be travelling to start Ted Lasso 4. But we're all happy and healthy!

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Sorry, darling. I know I said I might be there, especially because I love seeing my dear friends and celebrating their talent. But I wasn’t feeling my best, so I decided to stay in and enjoy everything from home. Sarah was there, though, and she said it was delightful — she had a lot of fun and mentioned how much she loved seeing you there. Did you have fun? I was thrilled about the winners this year! you know I am full-time in NYC lately so I am always around and ready to see you. I need an update about your life and the next exciting projects that are coming for you.

And imagine how devastated I was to not see you there, love! But I did see lovely, lovely Sarah and I told her to pass along my best to you. I'm all over the place for the summer, but I'd love to find time to catch up with you. Buy you and your babe dinner, I'll even bring mine.

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PRIVATE: God! I appreciate your trust. You know me, I am the last person that would go and spread information about my friends. I am the most private person or at least I try to be in this industry where it's definitely not easy. Josh? I don't know Josh, is he an actor too? -so, it was a big surprise for you too! wow, i bet it was not easy, especially now that you are starting this crazy moment in your career but everything will work out for you. How are the things between you and the baby's dad now? are you two together?

PRIVATE: It’s been complete and utter madness, darling. I trust you with my life, so you’re one of the very few I’ve actually told this. It definitely wasn’t planned, Josh and I weren’t even in a proper relationship, just two people spending time together, so you can imagine the shock. Telling the Marvel gods? Absolutely nerve-wracking. I rehearsed it in my head a hundred times before I even opened my mouth.

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Jessica: SPL sounds like a Late Show Night. I kinda love it. I bet she would love to sign all the fans letters with these initials. We will talk to her about it later for sure. It was not a short time, especially considering we're talking in Hollywood years, it represents like two decades in this industry. I bet it was hard after such a long relationship. Why did you decide to end up things? may i ask about it? I don't think we have ever talked about it before but I understand if you prefer not looking back at the past, especially now that your present and future are so bright. Jessica: I love you! thank you! it means a lot because we would hate a wedding without you! god! it still feels surreal talking about MY wedding, I never thought I would do this. My first wedding was on my 20s and it was a hippie ceremony, we were high and we did it only because we needed the papers to rent an apartment in Madrid for less ponds. I had two kids with different men and I was still married to Paco, we never took marriage seriously. So, this feels like a first time. Jessica: That's what this life is about, balance, but your family comes first, never forget that because sometimes our passion for our work makes us a little bit blind and we tend to forget what our priority should be. We're actors, we're insane.

AARON: can give her the nickname of SPL. because that sounds pretty cool, right? or maybe it's because i'm saying it and i think it sounds cool. oh man...i was married to sam for roughly eight years but we were together for about eleven years. was late 2020 when i asked for a divorce and it was a hard year. AARON: and i adore you both so much. so does josephine and the kiddos. they love their aunties so much and can't wait to celebrate your big day when it happens. we wouldn't miss it for anything. any movie or job will have to wait because we will not miss it. AARON: definitely keep working and enjoy it but if it all ended today...i'd be a happy little clam because i'd get to travel, visit friends i haven't seen in a while and just be very present in my kids and wife's life. don't blame you! you got to pick the roles that are fun and worth your time. especially after being in the industry for the amount of time.

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God! but how did it happen? well, that was a stupidest question ever. We know how but when, who? was it something you have planned? I love to know you're happy and enjoying this new stage in life, you are about to know true happinness and true love through motherhood.

My love, it's absolutely true. Still trying to wrap my head around it, to be honest. I think I needed a minute to process everything, talk to the Marvel gods, and basically get a grip before I felt ready to share it with the world. It’s been a wild, beautiful little secret, and now that it’s out, I can finally breathe. We have to get together soon so I can tell you everything. Mocktails on me and you can share your wisdom. I desperately need it.

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Jessica: Hello, darling! God! I've missed you but I hate to be the kind of person who puts any pressure on her friends to be around all the time. Please, don't worry about anything. I'll always be here for you and I'm happy to hear from you. You don't have to be sorry about anything. I'm still in NYC enjoying of my days with Sarah. I had fun watching the Tonys from home. What about you? How are you? How is your gorgeous family doing?

Jason: I know it’s been a hot minute since I last reached out — longer than I’d like, truth be told. Life’s been a bit of a whirlwind lately, and while I could rattle off a list of reasons, I’d rather just say I’m sorry for not keeping in touch. You matter to me, and I hope you’ve been doing okay. If you’re up for it, I’d love to catch up and hear what’s been going on in your world. No pressure — just sending some kindness your way today. @jessiicalange

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Jessica had always been a possessive soul when it came to her loved ones. She had a tendency to become territorial and stand up for whatever she considered hers. Even though her toxic tendencies had diminished considerably since she entered a healthier, more loving relationship, there were still some dark corners in her mind and heart that made her act out. She sat upright, hands under her chin, watching the two women go back and forth, paying close attention to every gesture and word they shared. She wanted to read between the lines, to guess their thoughts.

“It seems like it was fate” Jessica replied to Gen. Suddenly, every gesture and every word from her colleague became increasingly irritating to her. “They start reading your mind” she repeated, looking at Sarah with a twisted smile. “I guess that happens when you’re too close to your co-stars. That’s not very common for me, though—just a few exceptions over the years. But for you? Does it happen in every project, or was this lady the exception?” Jessica asked, locking eyes with Glen, her own gaze darkening slightly as she awaited an answer.

Jessica was taking a sip of wine when Glen mentioned a damn sleepover. The blonde almost spat it out, but managed to maintain her elegance and composure. “You forgot to tell me about the sleepovers?, darling” she said with a smile toward Sarah. “Oh no, I hate watching myself. I’m not that kind of pretentious celebrity. I’m just an actor who does what i love without the intention to make friends or watch myself in sleepovers as a sixteen years old. More wine anyone?"

Sarah’s eyes sparkled as she looked at both women, her grin widening at the easy rapport between her fiancée and Glenn. As the greetings settled into a comfortable hush, her fingers naturally slipped into Jess’s, a natural second nature for the couple.

Glenn: "oh please I was just as surprised. I hadn’t even mentioned i was working here yet before this one here beat me to it,'" she flashed her nodding smile towards sarah "you know how it is — you work with someone long enough, they start reading your mind, how can you not miss that "

The conversation flowed easily as Sarah glanced over the menu, her eyes occasionally lifting toward Glenn, cheeks still warm from the compliments. It was nothing, just casual chatter, but she smiled all the same. Once everyone had ordered, the menus set aside, Sarah turned back to Jess. Her grin was easy, familiar, a gentle tug of her touch.

Glenn: "i told sarah during our cast sleepover, that if they ever remake fatal attraction, god forbid....the only person i'd allow my role to is her and i'm sure you'd agree. But all that being said — next time, Jess, you really have to join us. We’ve done enough of my back catalog, maybe it’s time we wander into your territory, personally i'd rather be watching your version of king kong."

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HACKS 4.10

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"Darling? Did I hear that correctly — you're expecting a baby? How the hell didn’t I know this?! Congratulations!! I'm honestly speechless — what amazing news!"