Chapter 20.

Gossip Fest

"Can you believe this night?" Scarlett leaned back in the pa.s.senger seat of Jane's Jetta and put her bare feet up on the dashboard. Her laid-back demeanor was at odds with the seven-hundred-dollar dress that she was wearing on loan from some new designer. The cool April breeze blowing through the half-open windows felt great, especially after standing around in a jam-packed club all night. Scarlett was beyond tired but at the same time newly energized, because she was finally alone with her best friend . . . unmiked . . . and br.i.m.m.i.n.g with important topics to discuss.

"So where do we start? Sophia or Gaby?" Jane said. She, too, seemed ready for a marathon gossip fest.

"You mean, the crazy person posing as Gaby? Cuz that girl is definitely not Gaby."

"Do you think Madison brainwashed her? Or Trevor? Or both?"

"I think it might be her new publicist, Annabelle. She was at the party tonight. Short, curly brown hair, leopard-print dress. She was hovering over Gaby like a mother hen."

"Oh! Annabelle Weiss. I saw her name on the guest list. OhmiG.o.d, I told Gaby to sign with her, didn't I?"

"Yep."

"G.o.d. Well, anyway . . . I noticed Annabelle talking to Trevor a lot. And Veronica Bliss. And she was hanging around Topher Gant, too. Hey, I wonder if she's also his publicist? And maybe she arranged for him and Gaby to come to the party together? I heard publicists do that, to make sure their clients get into the magazines."

Scarlett frowned. "You mean, like, fake that two people are dating so they'll get more press coverage?"

"I guess?"

"Ew."

Although . . . Scarlett realized that Trevor was doing something similar with her and Naveen (who was at the party tonight and who Dana kept ordering her to talk to). And that Scarlett was allowing it to happen. So what, exactly, did that say about her?

They pa.s.sed the intersection of Sunset and La Cienega, and Scarlett was startled to see a gigantic image of herself on a billboard, wearing a hot pink bikini and lying on a gigantic Photoshopped bed of peppermint candies. The line WHO'S your FAVORITE FLAVOR? was spelled out across the bottom in huge red letters. Cla.s.sy. It was part of PopTV's new ad campaign, with each of the four girls in a different-color bikini against a different candy-theme background . . . because the ratings weren't high enough already?

"Seriously, I can't believe what a b.i.t.c.h Gaby was to us tonight," Scarlett mused out loud. "I'm definitely gonna have to have a little talk with her ASAP."

Jane nodded. "Me too."

"And what's up with Madison? She looked pretty stressed about having her 'baby sister' around."

"Yeah, I'm soooo glad my baby sisters aren't like Sophia," Jane agreed. "She was like Madison two-point-oh. Hopefully she's not here for long!"

Sophia had been quite a terror at the party, slamming back shots and flirting with anything with a heartbeat. Madison had stayed glued to her side all night, whispering furiously in her ear, no doubt telling her to cut it out. Which didn't seem to work too well.

"Sophia's proof that Caleb's not a cheater, though," Jane added.

"Come again?"

"He didn't even look her way when she made the moves on him. Twice. He didn't seem to notice Gaby's new, uh, a.s.sets, either. I'm just saying."

"Hmm."

Scarlett knew that after their breakup, Jane had wondered if Caleb might have been cheating on her at Yale. Which, in Scarlett's humble opinion, was a very likely scenario. Although maybe he had changed since then? "How are things going between you two, anyway? Are you guys in love again, or what?" Scarlett said, hoping that the answer was no.

"Who said I'm looking to fall in love? I just want a nice, stress-free relationship for a change."

"So you're happy?" Scarlett asked, hiding her oh really? expression. Because, really? She doubted Jane was able to be with a guy she truly liked and not fall in love.

"Definitely! Caleb is exactly what I need right now. It's just low-key with him, no pressure. Like tonight. See how I'm going home with you instead of with him? We're not like one of those clingy couples that need to be together twenty-four/seven."

Scarlett laughed. "Hey, watch it. It just so happens that I'm a real catch. And if Liam wasn't out of town, I would so stand you up for him."

"Ha-ha."

"So what does Braden think about you dating Caleb?"

"Braden? Um . . . well . . . I haven't mentioned it to him."

Scarlett raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Aren't you guys in touch? I mean, have you heard from him since he took off for Alaska or wherever?"

"Banff. Yeah, he emails a couple of times a week, but . . ." Jane's voice trailed off uncertainly.

Scarlett turned and stared at Jane, who was driving with one hand and twirling her hair with the other. Hmm. Jane was obviously still hung up on Braden. Which might be the real reason why she wasn't madly in love with Caleb?

"Janie, have you ever told Braden how you feel about him?" Scarlett asked her gently.

"What? I spent the night with him! I think that's pretty clear."

"Okay. First of all, I've hooked up with plenty of guys that I didn't have feelings for. Sometimes hooking up is just hooking up, ya know? You can't expect Braden to read your mind."

Jane seemed to consider this. "Well, what if that's just it?" she said after a moment. "What if he just hooked up with me and doesn't actually have feelings for me?"

"Yeah, he doesn't care about you, Janie. That's why after losing his best friend and having the media drag his name through the mud, all because of you, the guy is still sending you emails twice a week."

"Whatever. I don't want to think about him anymore."

Scarlett laughed. "Right. Like I believe that. I think you and Braden need to get really, really drunk and confess your true feelings for each other."

Jane grinned. "Yeah, that sounds like a healthy start to a relationship. Besides, why are you saying this stuff about Braden? I thought you didn't like him."

"I like him fine, except for his commitment issues."

"Commitment issues?" Jane started twirling her hair again.

"You mean that girl he was stringing along for, like, three years didn't clue you in? Willow, right?" Scarlett shook her head. "See, Janie, there are two types of guys who won't commit. The first type avoids relationships until he falls in love for real, and then he's yours forever. The second type avoids relationships, period. That's the type you want to stay far away from. The question is, which type is Braden?"

"I don't know, Dr. Phil," Jane joked. "Or should I say Dr. Harp? Has your mom been giving you therapy lessons?" Scarlett's mother was a shrink.

"Hey, shut it! I'm just trying to help."

Of course, Scarlett knew something about commitment issues because she used to have them herself . . . until she met Liam.

She gazed out at the twinkling lights of the city against the dark sky, wondering where he was right this second. On the nights they didn't spend together, they usually talked before going to bed, just to say hi and talk about their day. Scarlett checked the dashboard clock: 11:23. Not too late. She could still call him when she got home.

Liam was due back on Sat.u.r.day-her birthday. The plan was for him to pick her up at 7 p.m. that night, her bags packed for whatever surprise he had in store for her. She couldn't wait.

Scarlett normally didn't get worked up about birthdays. Her family had never been into traditions and celebrations, so she grew up not expecting much each April 24. Usually, Jane had to drag her out and force her to do something, even if it was just going out with a few friends. Although some years Jane went all out, like on Scarlett's sixteenth birthday, when she organized a barbecue at the beach, followed by a girls-only sleepover, followed by a spa day.

But this year . . . well, Scarlett was excited about whatever plans Liam had for her. Knowing him, they were sure to be awesome.

Chapter 21.

The Other Team's Playbook

"Miss Jane! You've outdone yourself. Our birthday girl is going to be soooo surprised," D said, typing briskly on his iPad. "Tell me-what juicy little lie did you come up with to get her here tonight?"

"Dana told her to come by here at six to shoot a quick pickup scene," Jane replied. She stood back and studied the HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SCARLETT! banner she had just strung across the doorway of Coco de Ville. "What do you think? Higher or lower? Hmm, should I have gotten green letters instead of blue? Maybe I should just take it down. . . ."

"The sign is perfect! Honey, stop stressing and give me something to write about for my blog," D ordered her, patting the chair next to him.

"Hey! Don't post anything until after she gets here. I don't want you to ruin the surprise. I mean it, D!"

Jane sat down, wishing she didn't feel so anxious. But there was still much to do for Scar's birthday party, which was in less than three-no, two-hours.

The inside of Coco de Ville looked strange to Jane in the daytime, brightly lit and almost completely vacant. The floors were swept, the bar was clean, the mismatched, patterned cushions were neatly lined up, and there was a quiet hush in the air. It was hard to imagine that in just a short while, the place would be packed with people-drinking, dancing, shouting over the music, and spilling their c.o.c.ktails.

Across the room, the PopTV crew was shutting down to break for dinner before resuming the shoot once the party started. They had spent the afternoon filming scenes of Jane and Hannah putting up decorations, making last-minute changes to the menu with the kitchen staff, and going over the playlist with the DJ. Hannah had just left to pick up a poster at OfficeMax: a "best of" collage of photos of Scar spanning from childhood to the present. Getting the photos had not been an easy project, since unlike Jane's parents, Scarlett's parents were not big on taking family pictures.

D had stopped by around three to watch the shoot and get some notes for his blog. In the old days before D-Lish (i.e., two months ago), he might have been in the shoot as a friend of Jane's versus observing from the sidelines. But Jane knew Trevor would never allow that now. It would be too weird to have a journalist who blogged about the show to also be on the show, especially because D was becoming very well-known very quickly. In any case, it had been a while since they had hung out, and Jane was happy to spend some time with him, even if it was during "work hours."

"So, have you talked to your gorge ex lately?" D asked Jane. "I hear rehab is doing wonders for him. If he manages to stay sober, I might ask him out myself."

"Yeah, good luck with that. And no, I haven't talked to him."

Which wasn't exactly the truth. Jane thought about the email she'd gotten from Jesse just this morning: Didn't take you long to find a new boyfriend, Jane. Guess you're as big a liar as you always were.

She'd started to write back, then figured, what good would it do? Jesse had obviously heard about her and Caleb, which would not have been difficult, since their relationship was all over the media. She wished now that she hadn't listened to Trevor's "advice." It had been stupid, lying to Jesse and making him think that he still had a chance with her.

D's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Soooo. Was it super-awkward seeing Jesse at the hospital?"

"Yeah. I hadn't seen him since we broke up, and-" Jane stopped suddenly and craned her neck to see what D was typing. "Don't you dare write about me and Jesse in your blog! It's totally off the record! Do you hear me, D?"

"Calm down, baby cakes! I would never!"

Jane sighed. She reached over and straightened his bow tie, which was large, striped, and vintage. "It's so confusing with you these days. I mean, you're my friend I tell private stuff to, plus you're a blogger. Should I just keep my mouth shut?"

"Honey, the only thing I ever publish about you is that you're a sweet, beautiful, un-Botoxed gem in a shark-infested sea of fakes." D set aside his iPad. "Let's change the subject! How is your new man-friend?"

"Caleb? He's, um, fine."

"Fine?" D leaned back and narrowed his eyes at her. "That doesn't sound good, honey."

"No, no! Caleb's really cool! It's just that"-Jane hesitated-"we've been dating for a couple of weeks now. Less than that, even. At first it was a lot of fun, you know, talking about high school and catching up and stuff. But . . . well . . . I'm kinda starting to wonder about him."

"What do you mean?"

"Well . . . like last night? We finally had a date without the crew. I was looking forward to seeing him alone, you know? Except he asked me where the cameras were. Like he missed them or something. And then, we're kissing on his couch, and he pulls away and asks me if I think he should get an agent."

D gasped. "No!"

"Yep."

"Sounds like your boy has the fame bug."

"Yeah, right? I'm hoping it's just temporary, though. I mean, this is all pretty new for him. Maybe once the excitement wears off-"

"Hey, you two!"

Jane glanced up and saw Trevor walking toward them, coat in hand. He'd been showing up at shoots more and more lately. She hoped he hadn't overheard any of her conversation with D. "Hey, Trevor. Are you taking off?"

"Yeah, I just came by to go over a few things with Dana. Hi, D. Loved your piece about Jared Walsh."

"You didn't think I was too harsh?"

Trevor laughed. "The guy gives heteros.e.xuality a bad name. And no, you can't quote me on that. Will we see you tonight?"

"Wouldn't miss it!"

"Great! You've done a terrific job organizing this party, Jane. Scarlett's going to be very, very happy."

"I hope so." Jane smiled, flattered. Then confused. Why did Trevor have this effect on her? When he talked to her like this, it was like he was some hard-to-please dad and she was his favorite little girl. Which was kind of weird, but it was the truth. But he could also make her feel like she was a spoiled, ungrateful brat, like when she tried to discuss the Madison Problem with him and he basically shot her down, reminding her that she got paid a lot of money to do the show. Translation: Stop being so ungrateful and suck it up.