Love Me Again, Cowboy

“Okay, listen,” JulieAnn says. “First of all, when have I ever steered you wrong? Yes, we knew he was a risk, and I know it doesn’t seem like it now, but this is good, darling. Bad publicity is still publicity. Your name is going to be on the covers of all the magazines—we can’t buy that kind of exposure.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Despite the publicity, I care about my name and would rather it not be smeared.”

“I know, I know,” she says. “I can fix this, spin it into a positive. You just need to trust your Auntie JulieAnn.”

Trusting her is what got me into this mess in the first place. “I think I had it right when I said I needed a break from the spotlight. I just don’t think I have the energy for all of this drama. My heart isn’t in it enough.”

JulieAnn sighs into the phone. “You know, maybe a small break would do you some good. I’ll set you up at a resort in Sedona. They’ll be discreet. No one will even know you’re there. You can relax and get facials and massages every day. Oh, and I can set you up with some extreme adventure tours, so you’ll be ready for the role. Since I told the casting director that you could do all those crazy things, you ought to learn.”

That was another thing she claimed I could trust her on . . . assuring the casting director that I could shoot a gun, rock climb, horseback ride, fight, and rope a cow. I told her the only thing on that list I could actually do is horseback riding. But she said it didn’t matter, just as long as I could learn the other skills before filming.

“You think I still have a chance for the role at this point?”

“Absolutely. You go take your break and learn what you need for the role, and I’ll fix everything on this end.”

Getting away from the spotlight does sounds like a breath of fresh air. “Yeah, okay,” I say.

“Great. I’ll take care of everything. Now get back to your sister’s event and show those hillbillies how to party Hollywood style. Okay sweetie, I’ve got to go now. Kisses.”

I hang up the phone and look at the cupcakes in the fridge. They’re chocolate. My mouth starts to water. I haven’t had dessert in six months. I’ve been working on toning up for the role. Despite JulieAnn’s optimism, I’m probably not going to get it now, so why not? After today’s headlines, I deserve something sweet. I open the fridge, and a burst of cold air surrounds me. I grab one of the frosted cupcakes with a yellow bonnet on it in fondant. The sweet, nutty aroma of chocolate floats around me like a sultry tease.

I know it’s not dessert time yet, but I did pay for these so I don’t think anyone will mind. Still, I snatch a napkin from a stack on a shelf to hide the cupcake and slip out of the kitchen before the chef notices and scolds me. Once I’m back in the ballroom, I waste no time shoving a colossal bite of rich, gooey deliciousness in my mouth. I close my eyes and moan in pleasure, knowing I totally deserve this right now. Oh. . . chocolate, how I have missed you.

“Oh. My. Goodness!” someone yells out.

I open my eyes. Everyone in the room is staring at me and pointing. What is it? My heart skips a beat. Oh, please tell me I’m not having a nip-slip moment like Janet Jackson. I look down. My red dress is still covering everything it ought to, but my confusion grows when the gasps continue to ring out in a ripple effect across the ballroom. I turn and gaze at my reflection in one of the mirrored walls. Aside from my long, dark hair looking fabulous swept to one side with a jeweled comb and my make-up being on point, my lips are coated in blue. It’s even stuck in between my teeth. I look like I just ate a Smurf.

“It’s a boy!” someone shouts, and cheers erupt in the room.

Ala and her husband, who are currently gawking at Reese Witherspoon, turn their heads to me. Amongst the cheers and congratulations, my eyes meet my big sister’s. Ala’s smile drops, and I see the disappointment in her expression. I put that disappointment there. Here I was trying to do a nice thing, and I went and ruined it.

Chapter Two

“I’m so sorry,” I say to Ala.

She shrugs. “Are you? You have a habit of stealing the spotlight.”

She says it in jest, but she can’t take the look of disappointment from her face or stooped shoulders.

My eyes sting and my nose burns. I need to get out of here. I turn and flee the ballroom. I run through the hall, my heels clicking angrily on the polished marble floors, until I duck into an unoccupied conference room with rows of tables and chairs set up lecture-style. That’s when I let the tears fall. I slump into a chair and toss the half-eaten cupcake on the table. It’s a sad day when even chocolate has forsaken me.

I hear the door slide open and look up. Ala waddles into the room and stares at me with raised brows. “Hey,” she says.

“Hey,” I say back and work to dry my eyes.

She sighs and takes a seat next to me.

I shake my head. “I’m so sorry I ruined the reveal. I didn’t realize the frosting was in the cupcake. I should’ve known, but I was pissed at something else, and I saw chocolate, and—”

“Shhhh,” she says and rests her hand on top of mine. “You had me at chocolate.”

We both chuckle, and I rest my head on her shoulder. She leans hers on top of mine. “You gonna tell me what’s going on with you, sis?”

“It’s nothing you need to worry about. Shouldn't you get back to your party?”

“It’s my party, and I'll ditch it for a while if I want to.” She huffs a laugh. “Now tell me what’s going on with you.”

I sniff, knowing perfectly well that she’s not going anywhere until I tell her what’s really going on. “I did everything I set out to do when I came to California. I’m successful, I have lots of money, I have an Emmy on my mantle, and I go home every night to my big empty house and wonder where I go from here.”