***
In the upcoming week, Ashley saw Caz on daytime and late night talk shows. If she missed one, her fellow students were quick to mention the interviews and ask about him. All she would say was that she and Caz had become friends over the summer when she’d been assigned as his gofer, which sounded a lot less important than working as his personal assistant.
“Simply say you went out and broke up, no story,” Marissa said.
Ashley shook her head. “Someone would put it on Facebook or Twitter.” She was determined to salvage her privacy, plus she didn’t want to look back. She wanted to move on.
Chapter 26
Ashley tugged her bag off the carousel at LAX, careful not to let the garment bag she’d carried on hit the linoleum. It held the three designer dresses Dad had sent, and she wanted to send pictures to Powder so she’d wear the right one to the movie premiere.
“Hey, kiddo,” Dad said.
She turned in surprise, and found Dad standing behind her with pink roses in his hand. He held an arm out for a hug.
***
Ashley could not contain her excitement as her dad escorted her down the red carpet on premiere night of Eternal Loss,
Eternal Revenge. They showed their credentials to security and were shown inside the roped-off area that led into the theater.
Dad eyed some other suit-wearers. “I see Russ. I need to talk to him for a second. Want to join me so I can show off my gorgeous daughter?”
Ashley froze. Russ. That was the director. She’d never told Dad about getting fired, and in the back of her mind, she had a real fear that she’d be escorted away from the premiere as soon as an executive spotted her. She turned, keeping her back to the director, and said, “No, thanks. I’ll see you inside.” Ashley tried to keep the squeak from her voice.
“Have fun.” Dad patted her shoulder and headed toward the men.
Ashley swallowed and moved further in. The electric crowd of screaming fans with their flashing cameras was contained by ropes and strategically placed security guards. Ashley snapped their photo from this side of the ropes and forwarded the picture to Mom and Marissa.
A ton of movie stars not attached to the film came to the premiere. While it was fun to see them, Ashley wasn’t starstruck. She’d really met too many actors growing up who’d come and gone in popularity to feel awe.
“Ashley!”
Ashley turned at the sound of her name and saw Powder, standing with her arms out for a hug. Powder looked rock-star in a black and silver gown. Her hair had grown several inches but was still spiked out. Ashley hugged her, and her own dress—white and filmy—swirled around them with the motion and the faint California breeze. “Thanks for helping me choose a dress.”
Powder said, “Your dad knows some killer designers. And you look perfect, very springtime.”
“You look so cool.” Ashley admired Powder’s style. She’d never be able to carry off metal studs.
Powder smiled her thanks then eyed the growing crowd of arriving stars. “I can’t leave Jason or some starlet will make a play at him. Find me later, okay?”
Ashley nodded. On her way up the carpet, she ran into several other people she’d worked with, and they chatted about the crowd and expectations for the film. If they knew she’d gotten fired, no one brought it up, so Ashley relaxed and began to enjoy herself more. No doubt her minor set drama was nothing compared to what they saw every day at work. And Powder had said it had been glossed over.
Ashley knew more people than she thought she would and welcomed seeing most of them. Boomer’s sheer size made him easy to spot, but she almost didn’t recognize him in sleeves. Ashley hugged him and complimented his suit. “Powder told me you got a part in Petra’s next film.”
Boomer looked down and she’d have sworn he blushed. “They came to sign her, and I was doing some sound work nearby. They thought I’d be good for a small part.”
“You’ll be great.”
Boomer grinned and cocked his head, back to his normal, confident self. “That’s because I’ll be traveling with the side arms.” He curled his biceps for her. “Loaded with bullets.”
“Okay, yeah, see ya later.” Ashley patted him on his impressive bicep, and moved a few steps down the red carpet. Halfway down, she ran into the director.
She stopped and her face flushed. They last time they’d been face-to-face, he’d fired her from the film.
Nothing showed on his face but welcome. He pulled away from the couple he was speaking with and leaned down to hug her. “Hi. What do you think of all this?”
Ashley breathed out a sigh of relief. Good. No trouble. She said truthfully, “It’s exciting.”
“A lot of what you did really worked and we used it.”
“Cool.”
“See you inside.”
Ashley took that as her cue to leave. She walked along toward the building, glad they’d come early so she had a chance to catch up with people. This was turning out okay.
Up ahead stood Cutter, hair coiffed in a perfect swoop, wearing a shiny purple suit with trousers cuffed high over brown loafers. Cutter reached out a hand and grabbed her arm. His eyes looked glittery and they shifted around the crowd. He leaned close, and his voice sounded thin, strained. “He’s here, have you seen him?”
Her heart thumped. “Who?”
Cutter’s hand tightened until it hurt against her arm, and his face flushed. “Harlon Ramonannini.”
Ashley shook loose. “No.”
“Yes!” Cutter moaned. “He’s going to see. He’s going to know I recut his wedding dress.” Cutter crossed his arms over his chest.
Ah. Ashley realized the reason for Cutter’s panic—the bridal gown flounce alteration. “You made the dress drape better.” She gentled her tone to reassure him.
Desperation flashed in his eyes, and Cutter’s voice took on a hysterical edge. “You know nothing,” he said and dashed away.
If the yells of the fans were any indication, more stars had arrived. Things were heating up on the red carpet, so she knew it was time to make her way inside. She wanted to see Caz more than anything, but she also didn’t want to see him. Maybe she’d catch him inside, and they could share a quiet, civil moment away from the commotion. Dad said that the movie premiere’s auditorium sat about a thousand people. In that large a crowd, she may not even see the back of his head. Had Caz brought a date? Would he—?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a hand on her arm and a heavy accent. “Score.”
“Excuse me?” Ashley pulled free of Garrett’s hold.
“I told Caz I’d find you.” Garrett tilted his head at a confident angle. His shorter hair stopped inches from the collar of his tuxedo jacket. Under it, he wore an off-white shirt untucked over his blue kilt. “He’s looking all over the place for you.”
“You’re talking to Caz?”
Garrett grinned big. “Yeah, we’re great mates again.” He threw an arm around her shoulders, keeping her in place, close enough that the wool fabric of his kilt brushed her fingers. “Caz called in his marker and I’m about to deliver.” Using the pressure of his big arm against her shoulders, Garrett turned her back into the crowd.
They made up? Good. Ashley tried to duck under his heavy arm. “I’m just going inside.”
His arm didn’t move. “Nope, I owe him, and there he is.” Garrett pointed with his free hand. Looking over, Ashley saw a dark-suited Caz shaking hands and signing autographs with the fans behind the rope. He looked wonderful, his hair slightly longer, streaked. A security guard with an earpiece flanked him, and his thin agent, dressed in a dark pantsuit, trailed close by.
Garrett forced her straight toward Caz with no intention of stopping. “Come on, then, before he goes mental.”