23
“Hey, babe.” Audrey strolls into my bedroom the next evening, looking gorgeous in skinny jeans and an off-the-shoulder black-and-silver-striped sweater. Her gorgeous red hair is tied up in a ponytail, and a light camouflage of makeup covers her flawless skin.
“You are glowing. I take it the date went well?”
She beams. “It did. I really like Troy.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“That’s not why I came though.” She carefully crawls up beside me. “I wanted to check up on you, and you need to watch the video statement Reeve put out earlier.” She hands me her cell. “I think your boy has finally pulled his head out of his ass.”
Lowering the volume a little, I press play on the recording and settle back to watch it. Reeve is in his bedroom at home, so he clearly recorded this before he left for the airport earlier today.
“Hey, guys. I know you have all seen the reports of what happened to Vivien Mills, and I want to officially comment.” His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat, and he looks tired as he drags a hand through his hair. “Girls who profess to be fans of mine, of Saffron’s, and theRydeville Eliteseries were responsible for the assault on Viv, and that’s not cool. Not cool at all.” Tears well in his eyes. “These girls scratched her face, pulled out clumps of her hair, and left her with broken bones, and that is not fucking acceptable.” His chest heaves as he pauses for a second. “Viv has done nothing to deserve the kind of hatred that has been leveled her way, and I should have spoken out sooner.”
He rubs a hand across his chest, staring at the camera with pain evident in his eyes. “Vivien Mills is the love of my life, and if you hurt her, you hurtme.” He slaps a hand over his chest. “So please stop. Stop with all the hatred. Leave my girl alone. And if you are one of the girls who attacked her, please come forward and turn yourselves in, because I promise you will be apprehended and brought to justice. Make it easier on yourselves and fess up now.”
His features soften as he blows a kiss to the screen. “That’s for you, babe. I love you, Viv. Feel better soon.”
The recording ends, and I silently hand the cell back to my friend.
“He’ll get in trouble for that,” she surmises, as we stare at the ceiling.
“He will. He’s broken the terms of his contract, but they won’t fire him. He’s the star. They’ll just hit him in the pocket.”
She stares at me curiously. “I thought you’d be happier about it. He has finally put those rumors about him and the bitch to rest.”
I turn my head to face her, ignoring the stabbing pain the motion induces. “Iamhappy he’s done that but…” I trail off, unable to articulate the turmoil waging a battle inside me.
She squeezes my hand. “You’re confused.”
I nod. “I am. I love Reeve. I really do, but I’m so sick of it all. I’m exhausted, and I’m in pain, and I’m struggling to feel anything…concrete. Maybe his statement will help, and the shit will die down, or maybe it will only enhance the interest in me.” I shrug. “The fact remains he will still have dealings with her until the last movie premieres, and I know she won’t go away easily. I’m not sure I’m strong enough to handle more of it, yet the thought of permanently ending things with Reeve makes me ill. I don’t want to lose him, but I’m not sure us being together is healthy for me either. I’m a mess, Rey.”
“I think anyone would be after everything you’ve endured. You don’t need to decide anything now, and maybe things will be clearer when you spend time with him at Christmas.”
“Maybe.” I exhale heavily, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me.
“How did it go with the police?”
“I made my statement, and a police artist drew a few sketches. I told them I believe they are all under eighteen, and once I thought about it, I realized they’re not from Cali either. They had accents I couldn’t place. Anyway, the police can’t issue the sketches because of their age, but they will put them into their system and see if anything comes up. Everything points to it being a setup, so I’m not holding out much hope they’ll find them.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean someone knew where I was. It wasn’t my usual yoga class, yet those girls were waiting for me. The police informed me someone hacked into the cameras outside the studio and across the street and wiped the footage from Saturday before they could access it.”
“Holy shit.” Audrey’s eyes pop wide.
“I told them I believed it was Bianca, Cassidy, or Saffron who orchestrated this either with or without the studio’s permission, and they looked at me like I was crazy. As if something like this is outside the realm of what Hollywood would do to ensure the success of a franchise.”
“Did you tell Reeve about your suspicions?” she asks, idly plucking at the comforter.
“No. I know he appears to have seen the light, but I’m not sure he’d buy into my theory, and things will already be difficult enough for him on set in light of his statement. Plus, if I’m correct, he’s going to feel huge guilt for not believing me. I didn’t want to put that on him until, orif, I get proof.”
“I wouldn’t hold my breath,” Mom says, appearing in the room with a dinner tray. “Sorry, I wasn’t eavesdropping. Your door was open.” She sets the tray on my lap.
“It’s fine. I wasn’t saying anything you didn’t hear earlier.”
“Can I get you some dinner?” Mom asks Audrey, and she shakes her head.