Eleven
^^^.^^f^ JOEY CAUGHT her looking at him a few times, ^^^P^P^A but that was about as near as he got to the delectable Ms Ivory. He kept his distance, well aware she must be so used to men going apeshit over her that the only way he had a chance was to make her realize he was different.
He sat at the bar playing background all day, waiting for them to reach his scene - which they never did on account of the fact that Kyle Carson was the slowest actor on two legs and seemed incapable of getting anything right.
Trinee kept him company between shots, giving him a running commentary on everyone involved with the film. She'd warmed up considerably since he'd revealed that he too was engaged.
"Tell me about Lara Ivory,"
he asked casually.
"What's she really like?"
"Oh, everyone loves Lara,"
Trinee replied.
"She's very popular. No big-star trips with that lady."
She shot him a quick glance.
"Gorgeous, isn't she?"
Joey nodded.
"Who's she sleeping with?"
"How would I know?"
"C'mon, Trinee, if she's in bed with someone it must be all over the set."
"Word is she doesn't do it with just anyone."
"How come?"
"She's particular."
Trinee yawned, bored with talking about Lara.
"So,"
she said.
"Your fiancee gonna visit us?"
"She might,"
Joey answered vaguely.
"How about yours?"
79 "Marek's coming for the weekend,"
Trinee said, with a huge grin.
"An', man, this girl can't wait!"
ft ft ft
That night Lara had a long phone conversation with Nikki. They spoke about Richard and his satisfaction with her performance and the way the editing was going on French Summer. Then they discussed The Dreamer, and Lara began telling Kyle Carson tales.
Nikki started to laugh - she couldn't get enough.
"He sounds like the definitive Mr Big Star,"
she said.
"A true pain in the ass."
"You've got that right,"
Lara responded.
"And slow. The crew are calling him Ten-take Kyle!"
They both giggled.
"How's Summer doing?"
"I can't control her,"
Nikki said.
"All she cares about is parties, parties and more parties!"
"It's her age,"
Lara assured her.
"She fails to see you as a mother figure. After all, you're only seventeen years older than her, she's probably a little jealous."
"Nonsense,"
Nikki said firmly.
"Why would Summer be jealous of me} She's gorgeous."
"So are you - with personality, a great career, and a well-known and respected husband."
"No,"
Nikki said.
"It's not the jealousy thing. Girls of Summer's age think everyone's a raving idiot, and that they're the smartest person on the planet. I know I was like that, weren't you?"
"I don't remember,"
Lara said quickly.
Nikki knew Lara didn't like talking about her childhood, it obyiously hadn't been very happy. All she knew was that Lara's parents had been killed in a car crash when she was very young, and that she'd been raised by various relatives. Once she'd asked Richard.
"Lara doesn't get into her past,"
he'd said.
"Leave it alone."
So she had.
"Anyway,"
Lara continued.
"Don't worry about Summer, she'll come around."
"I sure hope so,"
Nikki said glumly.
"I'm beginning to feel like nag of the year."
80
Til read the script as soon as it gets here,"
Lara promised.
"Then call me at once. Can't wait to get your reaction."
Lara put the phone down and wandered out onto the back deck, staring out into the darkness. She wanted to walk along the beach, but not by herself, the dark was too scary.
Sometimes everything was too scary . . . Especially when the memories came back to haunt her. The nightmare memories . . .
if if "Scaredy cat!"
Andy, her older brother, yelled in her face.
"Skinny little scaredy cat!"
"I'm not! I'm not!"
Lara Ann responded.
"Yes you are,"
said Andy. He was eight and very handsome. When they weren't fighting Lara Ann worshipped him.
"Mommy, Mommy - can I have another piece of chicken
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