Part 18 (1/2)

Scarlett was hanging out with Jane, just killing time until Dana or whoever came by and rounded them up for filming. (Aja had graciously consented to PopTV inviting Scarlett, Gaby, Sophia, and a few other L.A. Candy cast members and their friends to the party, so they could make an episode out of it.) Every once in a while, Jane would make a random comment about the guest list or the bar, which had confused Scarlett at first, until she realized that Jane was communicating with Hannah on her earpiece.

”Speaking of not being single . . . where's your boyfriend?” Jane asked Scarlett.

”What? Oh. He, uh, couldn't make it,” Scarlett said.

Jane gave her a pointed look. ”Scar, what is going on with you two?”

Scarlett fidgeted with her gold cuff bracelet, which she was supposed to tell reporters was a Mandy Monk original, and tried to figure out how to answer that question. She and Liam had continued with their ”break” these last couple of weeks, with no phone calls or texts or emails whatsoever. And she had been deeply miserable the entire time. Before Liam, she used to think that she could happily stay single forever. Not anymore. Forget Aja's hot fiance-or any other guy, for that matter. She wanted only Liam. She just wasn't sure if Liam still wanted her.

Scarlett peered around the room, stalling, hoping Jane would just drop the subject, already-and noticed Gaby and her publicist in the corner having a heated conversation. A beat later, Gaby glanced in Scarlett and Jane's direction and shook her head, obviously upset. What was going on?

Before Scarlett could mention what she saw to Jane, she felt Jane squeeze her hand. ”You know you can tell me if something's wrong.”

”What? Yeah, I know. Thanks, Janie.”

”Is everything okay with you and Liam?”

Scarlett sighed. ”No. We're not okay,” she blurted out. ”I think he's ready to break up with me over this stupid show.”

”Oh, no! Because of Naveen?”

”That, and . . . I'm always shooting, and Liam can't be filmed, so we don't have a lot of time to be together. Plus, it's been hard for him to find another job because of me. Oh, and the night of my birthday party . . . well, I think Trevor or somebody 'lost' his Evite, and Liam had these big surprise plans to take me to Malibu. He had the whole evening planned.”

Jane gasped. ”Are you serious? Trevor told me he was going to talk to Liam about the party and clear it with him.”

”Well, obviously, Trevor 'forgot.' Or, more likely, he lied to you. Anyway, that's not your fault, and besides, my party was amazing. Thank you for organizing it.” Scarlett paused, searching for the right words. ”The truth is . . . I need to figure some stuff out. Like what's important to me.”

”Yeah. You need to choose between the show and the guy you care about,” Jane said.

And college, Scarlett added silently. On the plane ride to Las Vegas, she had finally made her decision. She was going to transfer out of USC in the fall. Which was going to mean leaving L.A.

”Listen, there's something else-” Scarlett began.

”Jane! Scarlett! I've been looking all over for you girls!”

Scarlett saw Dana marching toward them, a walkie-talkie in one hand and a clipboard in the other. ”You two have to get miked now! Jane, we need to shoot a super-quick scene of you and Hannah doing some final prep. And, Scarlett, you need to get over to St. Mark's Square ASAP.”

Jane looked alarmed. ”Final prep? What final prep? Everything's all set.”

”Just make up some minor crisis. It doesn't matter. We need a couple of mike packs over here, please!” Dana shouted to one of the sound guys.

Jane squeezed Scarlett's hand again. ”To be continued,” she whispered, out of Dana's earshot. ”About Liam . . . don't worry. You guys are in love, and you belong together. It's gonna be okay.”

”Yeah, I hope so.”

Scarlett gave Jane a quick hug. In love? They had never said, ”I love you.” But Scarlett knew it was true. It's too bad that it almost took breaking up for her to realize it.

Scarlett finished getting miked and headed for the doorway. She noticed that Gaby and her publicist were gone-in fact, everyone seemed to be spilling out of the room and into the hallway. Jane had mentioned that Aja and Miguel were going to be boarding a gondola somewhere soon, then traveling via ca.n.a.l to the St. Mark's Square part of the hotel. There, they would make their grand entrance in front of hundreds of masked guests. Soooo Vegas!

Then Scarlett caught sight of Aja and Miguel at the back of the pack, momentarily alone. The couple exchanged a quick, tender kiss before rejoining their entourage.

G.o.d, they're actually in love, Scarlett thought, surprised. It's not just for the cameras or for publicity.

Scarlett pulled her cell out of her clutch to check the time. If she hurried now, maybe she could make a late flight back to L.A.? She could pack her bag, leave a quick note for Dana along with her mike pack (Sorry, family emergency!), and send Jane a text (IT'S ALL GOOD. LUV U). And then she could rush home and find Liam and tell him what she should have told him a long time ago.

Which was that she was absolutely, positively, madly in love with him. He was pretty much the best thing that had happened to her, ever.

She was also going to tell him about her decision to leave the show and USC and transfer to a new college. How would he take the news? Would he scoop her up in his arms and vow to follow her to Yale or Harvard or wherever because he was in love with her, too, and he couldn't live without her? (Yeah, wishful thinking.) Flush with nervousness and excitement, Scarlett turned on her way-too-high designer heels and half ran, half hobbled to the elevator banks. She felt strangely free.

Once on the ninth floor, she rushed out of the elevator-and stopped in her tracks. A PopTV camera guy and Matt the director were positioned a little ways down the hall. They had their backs to her, and the camera guy was filming a girl with big hair and a ruffly red dress walking into one of the rooms.

Scarlett frowned. Wait, was that her room?

After a moment, Scarlett realized that no, that wasn't her room, which was two doors to the left of the elevators; it was actually Jane and Caleb's room, which was two doors to the right. She also remembered that Gaby was wearing a dress just like that downstairs.

Now Scarlett was thoroughly confused. Had Dana decided to do a quick scene with Jane and Gaby up here, before the party started? What about the Jane-Hannah scene?

But Scarlett had no time to stick around and find out. She had to slip in and out of her room and make her escape before Matt or anyone else could stop her. She was on a mission.

Chapter 30.

What Happens in Vegas

”The gondola's gonna be here in about ten minutes.” Hannah's voice crackled over Jane's earpiece. ”I'll make sure the DJ has their song ready.”

”Great!” Jane said excitedly. ”Everyone's got champagne . . . place looks awesome . . . I think we're ready to start this party!”

Jane signed off and walked briskly across St. Mark's Square, which was actually an indoor version of the world-famous Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy. She loved the architecture of the shops and restaurants that surrounded the square, with its cream and pastel walls and high, arched windows.

Many of the guests were milling around or sitting at the large round tables decorated with gold silk cloths and antique candelabras. Jane tried to make out who was who, but it wasn't easy, since almost everybody was wearing a costume mask. She knew there were more A-list celebrities than usual because of Aja and Miguel, who were one of the most powerful couples in Hollywood. She spotted D near the VIP seating area, chatting up a model type; she recognized him easily thanks to his purple vintage tux and spiky crew cut. She also saw Veronica Bliss talking to a short dark-haired guy (Jared Walsh?); there was no mistaking the pet.i.te redhead in Chanel, mask or no mask. And there were a lot of people not wearing masks: Hannah, Oliver, Trevor, Fiona, Xavier and Hank from the Venetian, Aja's a.s.sistant, Anna Luisa, her publicist, Wanda, and Gaby's publicist, Annabelle. Although where was Gaby? She must be out there somewhere, along with Caleb, Naveen, Scarlett, and Madison. Not to mention Sophia and Jesse, if they weren't too wasted to make it down from their room.

Jane continued toward the dock where Aja and Miguel would be pulling up momentarily. At the top of the steps leading down to the water was an arch covered with roses, freesias, and tiny white lights. Thousands of flower petals blanketed the steps themselves. Two attendants in ivory waistcoats awaited the couple's arrival. It all looked pretty spectacular, if Jane had to say so herself.

Her phone buzzed with a text; Jane glanced at it quickly and saw that it was from Braden.

FLYING HOME TOM. DINNER MONDAY?.