Red Carpet Arrangement. Vicki Essex
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down your neck, peer through your windows, dig through your trash and make up stories about you based on everything you eat, buy and throw out. It’s all bullsh—” she stopped herself at Kat’s narrowed look “—uh...bonbons?” Thrown off, Sam shook her head. “Anyhow, they’re vicious. This is a cutthroat business. Do you want to expose your child to that?”
“Of course not.”
“Then, for God’s sake, tell your friend nothing. I’m sorry, Kat, but your life isn’t yours anymore.”
YOUR LIFE ISN’T yours anymore.
Everything inside Kat rebelled. Even the baby squirmed, tumbling as if he or she could escape the trap quietly closing in around them both.
Sam went on. “We’ve got other issues. Check out today’s gossip.” She took an iPad out of her bag and brought up a webpage, thrusting it at Kat. The headline screamed, Riley Lee Jackson to the Rescue. Below it was a fuzzy photo of Kat, face partially obscured, being shoved into a limo, Riley’s hand possessively on her back. The imprint still burned her skin. She glanced his way.
“I hadn’t seen that,” he said, expression unreadable.
“Luckily they bought my story,” Sam said. Kat scanned the text and was impressed by how the agent had spun the situation. “But people are already digging, trying to find Kat and hear her side of the story. We need to get her out of LA before someone recognizes her.”
“You don’t think anyone could possibly find me from a few blurry pictures?”
“With all the social media out there, someone will piece it together or come up with their own crazy theories. The moment your friend Jamie sees this, what do you think she’ll do? Frankly, I’m surprised she hasn’t called you yet.”
Kat set the iPad down, her heart palpitating uncomfortably. Breakfast wasn’t sitting too well now. She didn’t want to mention how Jamie’s connection to the media had helped get her into the VIP stands in the first place—getting her friend fired was not on her to-do list. So she squelched her discomfort and kept quiet.
“Don’t go upsetting her. It’s bad for the baby.” Winnie got Kat a glass of water. “Sam went over this with us when Riley started getting more famous. Don’t let her fearmongering scare you, dear. Sam does her job well.”
Kat took the glass of water gratefully, bewildered but glad someone was looking out for her.
“So... Modesto.” Riley rubbed his palms together. “Mom, I hate to ask this of you. I know you wanted to go shopping and see the sights—”
“I can do that anytime. This is much more important.”
Kat looked around warily. “What are you talking about?”
“My mother will go back to Modesto with you today. She’ll settle you at my place.”
“I thought the plan was for me to stay here for the rest of the week.”
“Not now, with the paparazzi sniffing. Trust me, this is better.”
Kat set her teeth. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him no, but she had no strong arguments for staying. “I can stay put here if it’s a bother.” Modesto wasn’t far, but she didn’t want to be whisked away to a city where she knew no one.
“It’s no bother at all.” Winnie beamed. “Riley will be busy all week. He won’t have time or energy to spend with his dear old mum. Anyhow, it’ll give us a chance to get to know each other.”
Winnie’s brilliant smile dispelled some of Kat’s apprehension. Riley’s mother seemed so nice, so...well, motherly.
Not that her own mother lacked those instincts, but Dotty Schwinn had treated her as more of a small friend than a daughter. From the moment Kat could speak in full sentences, Dotty had believed Kat was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. Mistakes had been made, sure, but Dotty didn’t hold them against her. Life was learning, she used to say. As a result, Kat had grown up a strong-willed, independent woman who, like her mother, traveled wherever she wanted unfettered.
Giving in to Riley’s demands and taking off for Modesto felt like a complete surrender of those values. Everything, including the life growing within her, was in the hands of people bent on keeping her hidden away, a dirty little secret to be buried. She could only imagine her mother’s disappointment. Freedom, she used to say, was worth more than gold.
It’ll be all right, Sweetpea. She soothed a palm over her roiling stomach. I’d do anything for you.
“You’ve got that look,” Riley said. Kat glanced up, but he was speaking to Sam. The agent’s eyes were unfocused, fixed on some point in the middle distance.
She blinked rapidly, like a sparrow considering a birdcage full of seed. “I’m trying to anticipate what’s next. I have a few plans in my back pocket for when things go south.”
“When?” Kat’s fingers clenched.
“Don’t think too much about it.” What she supposed was a kind look from Sam felt like the caress of the flat side of a knife. “Your only job now is to pop out a healthy kid. Leave the rest to us.”
* * *
THAT AFTERNOON, KAT took a cab to Jamie’s place to collect her belongings. Winnie had offered to go with her, but she didn’t think it would be a good idea to invite a stranger into her friend’s apartment.
Kat had hoped to pack and leave quietly without being interrogated, but as she was gathering her things, Jamie walked in and looked up in surprise.
“Oh, my God, Kat.” Her friend halted, puzzling over the toiletries bag clutched in her hand.
Kat felt as though she’d been caught stealing the silverware. “I thought you’d be at work,” she said.
“I...came home to change for an interview.” Jamie pushed her short blond hair out of her eyes and looked Kat over. “Are you all right? Your message last night was so cryptic. I thought you might’ve been arrested or something. I had to trace the number to find out where you were calling from.”
“I’m sorry. I was kind of distracted. Things got...intense.” She couldn’t explain further without breaking her promise to Riley.
“See, this is why you should’ve let me get you a phone. I was so worried.” Jamie’s dark eyes zoomed in on Kat’s large travel backpack, stuffed with her life’s possessions. “You’re leaving?”
“I was about to call. I can’t keep imposing on you. I have another friend who’s taking me in...” Jamie’s face sagged. Danishes, she’d upset her. Jamie wasn’t exactly needy, but she had a frail ego. Kat had to give her at least a tiny bit of the truth. “The baby’s father is taking me to Modesto.”
“Modesto?” Something flitted across Jamie’s face, and her eyes sharpened. “So...you found him? Who is he?”
Kat winced. Her friend suspected something. If Jamie had seen any of the photos from the Infinite Destinies premiere last night, she might be able to Nancy Drew the rest of the story by matching Riley’s filming schedule to Kat’s time in Hawaii...
“Kat?” Jamie prompted.
Don’t trust anyone.
“All that’s important is that he’s promised to help.”
“Oh, c’mon.” Jamie folded her arms over her chest. “It’s not as if it’s a state secret or something.”
“Jamie, please, this is hard enough for me. I appreciate you letting me stay here, and I swear I’ll pay you back when I can, but...” Kat waved a hand around the tiny, messy apartment. She’d been grateful for the roof over her head and had lived in worse. But she had to