Part 9 (1/2)

Scarlett noticed Jane opening her mouth to say, ”I didn't,” then clamping it shut. The fish tacos had been Scarlett's idea, because she had a super-easy recipe that consisted of four ingredients (tortillas, frozen fish sticks, shredded cabbage, and bottled sauce) and a microwave.

Jane glanced down at her lap, then up at Caleb with a fake smile. ”Yeah, well, do you remember my favorite food from high school?” she asked him.

Scarlett rolled her eyes. Dana must be texting Jane directions. She could tell the difference between her friend's real tone of voice and her Dana is making me say stuff tone of voice.

Caleb looked thoughtful. ”Hmmm. Definitely your mom's homemade clam chowder.”

”Wrong! It was pizza from Paesano's,” Scarlett corrected him.

Jane laughed. ”You're both wrong. I was obsessed with mac and cheese. Remember, I used to make it all the time?”

Caleb and Naveen laughed, too. Scarlett was surprised that they seemed so comfortable with two PopTV cameras practically on top of them, filming everything. Maybe it was the pomegranate margaritas (which were kind of strong) . . . or maybe they were just naturals at this . . . or maybe Dana was texting them lines, too. Whatever the case, the evening was going smoothly so far, and Caleb and Naveen were being really charming. Scarlett found herself almost relaxing and having fun. Almost.

”So, Scarlett. How's school going?” Naveen said, touching her arm lightly.

She pulled away quickly and said, ”It's fine.” You're on camera. Say something! Act friendly and casual! she reminded herself. ”I had my photography cla.s.s today.”

”Digital or film?”

”Digital. The professor doesn't believe in Photoshopping, so we have to learn to take really, really good images.”

”Wow, no Photoshopping? That's so not-Hollywood.”

”Yeah, right? It's kind of refres.h.i.+ng.” Scarlett took a bite of the guacamole. Hmm, not good.

Naveen grinned. ”Could you imagine if Photoshop was never invented? And you got to see pictures of celebrities as they really are, with wrinkles and m.u.f.fin tops and ma.s.sive zits and cankles-”

Scarlett cracked up, covering her mouth with her hands. ”Stop! You can't make me laugh when I'm eating!” she mumbled.

Naveen leaned over as if to tickle her. ”Really? Why not?” he said innocently.

”Stop it!”

”Caleb and I are going to make another pitcher of margaritas,” Jane announced, standing up. Caleb stood up, too. Was Scarlett imagining things, or was Jane a bit wobbly on her feet? Maybe more margaritas weren't such a good idea. ”Stay out of trouble, you two!” she added, wagging her finger playfully at Scarlett and Naveen.

Oh, G.o.d. Did she seriously just say that on camera? ”We're just going to finish off this yummy guacamole!” Scarlett said as Jane and Caleb headed into the kitchen, hoping to divert attention from Jane's remark. Although that was probably wishful thinking, since Trevor would no doubt edit out Scarlett's guacamole comment and replace it with-oh, maybe a shot of Naveen's hand lingering on Scarlett's arm. Or a shot of Naveen pretending to tickle Scarlett. Or a shot of Scarlett giving Jane some sort of intense, loaded, just between us girls look, lifted from some random portion of the evening.

Scarlett sighed, dreading the conversation she would have to have with Liam when this episode aired. It wasn't a double date. No, he wasn't trying to cop a feel. Jane was drunk, she didn't mean that. No, I wasn't drunk, I was totally sober and I was not flirting with him.

Scarlett glanced sideways at Naveen. He was staring at her, and it made her uncomfortable.

”So I have this a.s.signment I have to do for photography,” Scarlett blurted out. ”I have to take a portrait in the style of one of my favorite photographers.”

”That's cool. Which photographer did you pick?” Naveen asked her.

”I was thinking of Richard Avedon or maybe Irving Penn.”

”Good choices. Do you have a model yet?”

”No, but I'd better line one up soon. The a.s.signment's due, like, next week.”

”Well, if you're desperate, I'm happy to volunteer. I'm cool having you shoot me,” Naveen said, grinning. ”And since I'm so naturally good-looking, I never require Photoshop.”

Scarlett rolled her eyes at him. She knew he was joking, but as far as she could tell, he was physically practically perfect-no Photoshop or other enhancements required. Of course, she meant this in a purely objective, artistic way. Unlike that night at Hendry's Beach, when he'd peeled off his T-s.h.i.+rt, and she'd almost stopped breathing at the sight of his sculpted abs and . . .

Stop it! she told herself. She stood up abruptly. ”Uh, I'm just going to check on Jane in the kitchen.”

”Do you want me to come with you?”

”No, I'm good! I'm great! Just stay here and eat more fish tacos!” Scarlett insisted.

The camera swiveled to follow her as she headed toward the kitchen. Camera, singular. Scarlett noticed that the other camera guy was planted in the kitchen doorway, filming. She had to get away from Naveen. She didn't want to give Trevor any more opportunities to edit her in a compromising light, making it appear as though she and Naveen were milliseconds away from hooking up. Despite his slight jealousy, Liam was the most awesome boyfriend she'd ever had-actually, the only real boyfriend she'd ever had, period.

”'Scuse me,” Scarlett muttered, inching past the camera guy. ”Hey, Janie, do you need some help with-”

She stopped dead in her tracks.

Jane and Caleb were leaning against the sink, kissing.

Uh-oh, Scarlett thought.

Chapter 14.

Deja Vu

Jane sat down on the edge of the pool and gazed at the moon's reflection on the dark, gla.s.sy surface. Caleb sat down next to her and curled his arm around her shoulders. It was after midnight . . . the PopTV crew was gone . . . and the entire apartment complex seemed to be asleep. Naveen had gone home long ago, and Scarlett had gone to bed.

Or maybe Scarlett was standing out on their terrace with a pair of binoculars, spying on Jane and Caleb? Jane didn't really believe Scar would do that, but sometimes her best friend could be more overprotective than Jane's own mom and dad.

”Hey,” Caleb said, interrupting her thoughts, ”you wanna take a dip?”

”Um, no, thanks. You go ahead, though.”

”What? Where's the old Janie Roberts who used to dive headfirst into the surf when it was freezing out?” Caleb teased her.

Jane laughed. ”She grew up? The new Janie Roberts likes to stay warm. Besides, most of the time you used to push me in, jerk!”

Caleb laughed, too. ”Oh, yeah.”