Читать книгу The Fame Game, Starstruck, Infamous: 3 book Collection - Lauren Conrad - Страница 18

Kate sipped at her vodka and Sprite and surreptitiously took in everything around her: the low, leather lounges, the red-glass tile on the walls, the dark, smoky mirrors, the DJ booth manned by some guy dressed in gold chains and a baseball cap. . . . Nope, she definitely wasn’t in Ohio anymore.

She glanced down at her outfit. It was too bad she was dressed like she still was. Had she learned nothing from her previous outings with this crew? What was she thinking, wearing a pair of worn-in Levi’s and a ruffled T-shirt she’d bought at Banana Republic three and a half years ago? And let’s not even mention the DSW shoes! Kate sighed. She was only at Whisper, one of L.A.’s hottest nightclubs, where everyone practically seemed to glitter with money and glamour. The guys were all in jeans that probably cost more than a month’s rent back at her old apartment, and the girls wore tiny, shimmery dresses that hugged every tanned, toned curve. They moved sinuously on the dance floor or lounged around on the banquettes, members of an entirely different and much more beautiful species.

It was a miracle the doorman had let Kate in, even though she’d been flanked by the famous Carmen Curtis and the infamous Madison Parker. (Wouldn’t that have set Laurel’s teeth on edge, having the doorman open the velvet rope for everyone but poor Kate Hayes?)

When they’d pulled up in their town car (Madison refused to enter a cab), the line to get in had snaked almost around the corner of the block. “Ugh,” Kate had said. “Maybe we should go somewhere else. I don’t want to wait in that line.”

Madison and Carmen had both laughed. “Wait in line?” Madison had practically sneered. “Darling, people like us don’t wait in lines.”

People like us? Kate had thought. But I’m not one bit like you.

Carmen had reached out and patted her arm. “You’ll see,” she said. “I can get in anywhere. The doormen always recognize me.”

Madison had snorted. “As a person who just finished a season of her own TV show, I’m pretty sure that I’ll be the one to get us in.”

Kate shifted uncomfortably in the backseat. She hated to watch people bicker; it made her feel itchy and claustrophobic. “I’m sure the bouncers or whatever they are will recognize both of you,” she said lamely. She’d definitely been thrust into the peacemaker role between these two. She wasn’t a child of divorce, but she could only assume this was how it felt a lot—Mommy and Mommy are fighting! Kate had opened the door then and stepped out to the sidewalk. The line was getting longer by the second. She felt sorry for the girls who had to stand so long in those high-heeled shoes.

The PopTV cameras had already been set up to film their entrance, and Laurel was there, too, drinking something from a travel mug. “Coffee,” she’d said when Carmen raised her eyebrows at her.

“I hope you put some whiskey in it then,” Carmen had said. “Because you look a little tense.”

It was true: Laurel looked as wired and nervous as Kate felt. No doubt it was hard to be in charge of a TV shoot, but at least she didn’t have to be on-camera.

“All right, girls. The cameras are set and the doorman knows to let you in. Once you’re inside, wait a moment for us to get all of the cameras in, and then you can go to your table,” Laurel said, quickly motioning toward a tall doorman dressed in a black suit and armed with an ID scanner.

In a group they’d gone to the front of the crowd, and of course the ropes had parted for them as the doorman nodded a greeting. (It had nothing to do with either Carmen or Madison being recognized. They’d have to fight about it some other night, when PopTV hadn’t set things up so they could jump the line.) The PopTV cameras followed them into the dim, crowded room.

“What do you think of this place?” Carmen asked, jolting Kate back to the present.

“It’s . . .” Kate had to think about this for a moment. It was chic and obviously super-exclusive and everything, but did she like it? She wasn’t sure. “It’s . . . well, it’s definitely not like any club I’ve ever been to before.” She smiled broadly, hoping that that would convey the enthusiasm she didn’t quite feel.

“Well, you aren’t in Kansas anymore,” Madison said as she headed toward the table.

“Ohio,” Kate said quietly, but Madison was already distracted by some guy with one too many buttons undone on his collared shirt.

Carmen smiled at Kate. “Yeah, I know what you mean. Sometimes I love a club and sometimes I’d rather be at home eating popcorn and watching Clueless.”

“I love that movie,” Kate said.

“So brilliant, right?” Carmen replied.

“Completely. Although it definitely messed me up for getting around L.A. when I first moved here.”

“What are you talking about?” Carmen said, laughing.

“‘Everywhere in L.A. takes twenty minutes,’” Kate quoted.

Carmen laughed even harder. “Oh, honey, you can’t take traffic advice from Cher’s dad in Clueless.”

“Duh,” Kate said. “I know that now. . . .”

She laughed, too. She was surprised at how quickly she’d bonded with Carmen. At first she’d been starstruck—after all, the most famous person she’d met before her was the guy who did those annoying mattress commercials—but by the time they’d all finished their post-Grant’s burgers that night a few weeks ago when they met, Kate felt like Carmen was just another girl trying to find her way in L.A. Which, in a way, she was.

She liked Drew, too. He looked intimidating because of his height and his tattoos, but he was down-to-earth and funny. He didn’t make a big deal when Kate had spilled her Coke on his sleeve (oops!) when the three of them hung out the other night, and he laughed at all her lame jokes. But it was Carmen to whom he devoted most of his attention. He seemed to hang on every word she said, and Kate had to wonder if there was something going on between them. But she didn’t know Carmen well enough yet to ask.

“Aren’t you hot in that?” Madison asked, leaning over to catch her attention. She plucked at Kate’s long sleeve.

Kate smiled, embarrassed. “Uh, yeah. No one told me that it’s like, a violation to cover more than thirty percent of your skin around here.”

Madison laughed as if this was one of the funniest things she’d ever heard. “Oh, you can cover up whatever bits you want. You just have to do it in high style.” She took a sip of her drink, which was something pink served in a martini glass. She squinted over the rim, taking in Kate’s outfit. “Yes, I think it’s time you got yourself a new look. Do you have any favorite designers?”

Kate gripped her drink tighter and shook her head. Designers? Why in the world would Madison think she knew anything about designers? Madison should ask her about guitars. Gibson, Maton, Les Paul: Now those were names that meant something to her.

“Time to show off those legs, girl,” Carmen said.

Madison nodded without looking in Carmen’s direction. She obviously wanted this to be a two-way exchange; that way the cameras could catch her being sweet for once. “You’re cute as a button, Kate. We have to maximize your assets. Which means”—and here she raised her glass, toasting Kate—“we have to make a date for my very favorite activity: shopping.”

“Sounds great,” Kate said brightly. Now it was clear why Madison was being so nice to her: Trevor had written them a shopping date. She’d seen it in her filming schedule.

Kate and Madison—Shopping

Time: 11 a.m.

First Location: American Rag

She’d assumed that if they were going to have her shopping it would have been with Carmen. Of course, Carmen hadn’t just spent a season on TV doing makeovers. Surely Trevor wanted to showcase one of the things Madison was now famous for.

And she’d play her role in this story line as best she could. Barneys! Kate Somerville! Lunch at Joan’s on Third! Gossip with Madison! It would be fine. She was much better already at living on-camera. The first night she was filmed, when she’d moved into her new place—complete with a fake phone call her to mom—she kept looking right into the lens, whereas now, she sometimes found herself forgetting the camera was there (but only for a moment).

Oops! She’d just looked. That’s what you get for being too cocky, she thought.

But then she noticed something strange: Even though she, Carm, and Gaby were all on one side of the small, round table, the cameras were trained only on Madison.

Huh? she thought. Do the PopTV people find Madison as fascinating as she finds herself?

And then, materializing out of the club’s dimness, Kate saw a familiar shade of platinum approaching the table. She was stunning in a flowery, floaty dress, strutting in gold wedge sandals. She was none other than Sophia Parker.

Oh, thought Kate. Wow. That’s what the cameras were waiting for. And maybe that’s why Laurel was acting so weird earlier.

In that moment, Kate was no longer a cast member. She was at home, in her pj’s, watching this all unravel in the docusoap she had grown to love. Only this was so much better. This was the unedited version.

One lens was focused on Sophia now, and one on her sister. Sophia let out a high-pitched squeal.

“Oh my God, sis!” Sophia cried, holding out her hands. “What are you doing here?”

Madison paled. The hand holding her pink drink trembled a little, and she quickly set the glass on the table. Kate saw her willing herself to smile. “Sophie . . . ah! I might ask you the same thing!” Madison stood up and gave her sister an air kiss on each perfect cheek. Then she stepped back. “You look good,” she said. “But what’s that in your glass?”

Sophia beamed. “Nothing but Pellegrino, sis. Scout’s honor.” She drew an X over the plunging neckline of her dress.

“Well, sit down with us,” Madison said, sinking to the couch.

From her vantage point, Kate could see how rattled Madison was. But she was a pro—she acted as if running into the fame-seeking sister who’d humiliated her in front of the whole world was no big deal at all.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Sophia sat next to Madison and crossed one lovely leg over the other. “I’m Sophia,” she said to Carmen.

Carmen introduced herself and everyone else, but Kate could see that Sophia didn’t care what their names were. Her blue eyes were bored, glassy. The only thing Sophia cared about was the cameras and whether or not they were turned toward her. When they were, her eyes came to life again.

“So—how’ve you been?” Sophia asked her sister.

“Amazing,” Madison said. “Totally amazing. But let’s talk about you. How was rehab? Did you get really good at Ping-Pong?”

Sophia leaned back, laughing, so the cameras could get a good view of her ample cleavage. “Only the mental patients play Ping-Pong. The addicts—we read magazines. Speaking of which, I kept looking for you, Mad, but I never saw you.” Sophia’s smile was sly now.

“Oh, I was in them, all right,” Madison said. “One of my fans must have cut out all the articles about me to put in her Madison Parker scrapbook. I’m told that happens a lot.”

Nice, thought Kate. Madison was well trained in the art of the rejoinder, that was for sure.

Sophia snorted. “Yes, I’m sure that’s exactly it. So—come on, tell me. What are you up to these days?”

“Loving life,” Madison said simply. She finished her drink and then stood. “Well, it’s been fun, you guys. Soph, so great to see you again! But I’m going to head home. I’ve got a big day tomorrow. Gaby, you want a ride?”

“Okay,” Gaby said, which was pretty much the first thing she’d said all evening. She’d been too busy scoping out the crowd for unaccompanied guys to flirt with.

Madison air-kissed Kate, gave Carmen a wave, and then she and Gaby exited, one of the cameras following them. And of course once all the cameras left (after they got a sad-looking reaction shot of Sophia), Sophia did, too. She didn’t even bother to say good-bye; she just evaporated into the crowd.

“Wow,” Kate said. “That was kind of uncomfortable.”

“Yeah . . .” Carmen agreed. “Couldn’t have happened to a nicer girl. Now, come on. Let’s get rid of the mikes and have some fun.” Both girls tugged off their microphones and spotted a PA to hand them off to. Then Carmen grabbed Kate’s hand and pulled her toward the bar. They hadn’t gotten more than ten feet before someone reached out and grabbed Carmen in a big bear hug.

“Jake!” Carmen squealed, hugging the tall, dark-haired guy back. “Long time no see! How are you?”

“Better now,” said Jake, winking. He was handsome in the way that so many Hollywood guys were: strong cheekbones, strong jaw, and strong arms. He was wearing a shirt that said Virginia Is for Lovers.

As the two of them tried to catch up, yelling over the noise of the crowd, Kate shifted restlessly from foot to foot. Carmen had introduced her to Jake, but Jake only had eyes for Carmen. And Carmen was lapping up the attention, Kate thought. Maybe she’d been wrong about her and Drew.

Jake bought them both drinks and they headed back to their table, where they were joined by another handsome, dark-haired guy named Drake (really), who could have been—but wasn’t—Jake’s brother. Drake kissed Carmen and shook Jake’s hand. “Bro,” he said, “haven’t seen you since that roast of whatshisname. How’s it going?”

Drake settled in and Carmen once again introduced Kate, who smiled mildly, not expecting him to give her the time of day.

“Kate’s my new friend,” Carmen said. “She’s an amazing singer. You guys have to see her.”

“Cool,” Drake said. “By the way, I finally saw The Long and Winding Road. You were awesome.”

And that was how it went for an hour: handsome but interchangeable guys rotating through their booth to greet Carmen and flirt with her, and Carmen happily flirting back. She kept trying to include Kate in the conversation, but she was the only one who seemed to care what Kate had to say. Eventually, bored of being the third (or fifth or sixth or whatever) wheel, Kate got up and went to find fresh air.

Toward the back of the bar was a patio area, which was uncrowded and quiet. White lights twinkled in the jacaranda trees, and she thought she heard the murmur of a fountain somewhere. She breathed deeply, enjoying the solitude. The bass from the club registered with a dull thump behind her. She finished her drink and set the glass down in a planter filled with succulents.

“They like it better when you give them a bit of the sauce,” said a voice behind her in a charming accent.

She whirled around, mortified at being caught hiding her empty in a plant. “Uh—well—” She cleared her throat. There was yet another handsome dark-haired guy standing there. Seriously, was there a special on them tonight? “I was just setting it there for a minute.”

He laughed and his white teeth flashed in the darkness. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell the manager. But it does look like you could use another drink,” he said.

She shrugged. “Yeah, maybe.”

“Don’t look so thrilled to be here,” he said, reaching out and giving her shoulder a friendly little poke.

She took a step back, unnerved to be poked by someone she’d never met. “Do I know you?” she asked.

He threw back his head and laughed for what seemed like a full minute. When he was done he said, “Maybe you don’t need another drink.”

“Why?” she asked, puzzled.

“I met you ten minutes ago. We were sitting at a table together? You know, with Carmen?”

Kate flushed a deep red and was glad it would be too dark for this guy, whoever he was, to see that. “Oh my God, I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t realize—”

“I’m Luke,” he interrupted, holding out a hand for her to shake.

“Oh, right, sure,” Kate said. “I’m—”

“You’re Kate,” he said. “Kate from Columbus.”

“That’s me,” she said softly. She was still mortified.

“Well, Kate from Columbus, you wait one second. I’ll be right back.” He turned and went back into the club, and Kate was free to kick herself repeatedly for her stupidity. Luke was freaking cute—how was it that she didn’t remember him? Was he really so identical to Jake and Drake and Cayden and Jaden?

In a moment, Luke returned, bearing a vodka soda for her and a beer for himself. “Don’t give this one to the plant,” he said, handing it to her.

“Thanks,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. Clubs like this aren’t exactly my thing.”

“Mine either,” Luke said. “But a friend of mine promotes this night and he made me promise to come.” He took a sip of his beer. “So what are you doing these days, my old friend Kate? Still in the biz?”

“Pardon?”

“Show business. Acting. Writing. Directing. Make-up . . .”

“Stunts,” Kate heard herself say.

He raised his eyebrows. “Really?”

“I was Megan Fox’s stunt double in Transformers.” She tried to say it with a straight face but she could feel a smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. “Do you think she jumped out of that burning building?”

“You had me going there for a minute,” he said, laughing and toasting her. “You’re an actress.”

“No, definitely not,” Kate answered. “I’m a musician. I mean, trying to be.” She blushed again. “Really I’m a, uh, food services technician.” He smiled at that. “That’s much more accurate to say, because that’s what pays the bills.” For some reason—perhaps because the cameras were gone—it didn’t even occur to her to mention The Fame Game. She hadn’t totally adjusted to her new life; she still felt like last month’s Kate. “Are you in ‘the biz’?”

Luke nodded. “Yep. Just like ninety percent of the people inside this ridiculous club. I’m an actor.” He grinned. “Perhaps you’ve seen me in my star turn as Doctor Rose on Boston General?” The comic, needling way he said this told Kate, who had never seen Boston General, that he wasn’t actually one of its stars.

“I’m not much of a TV person,” she admitted.

“That’s okay,” he said, “I won’t hold it against you. But let me try another one: Did you see me in the bar scene in Inception? No? Okay, how about as that young lawyer from a competing firm in The Good Wife? No. Okay. Um, I usually don’t like to bring this one up, but since I’m striking out with everything else: Did you see me in that GEICO commercial, the one where the gecko goes to Disneyland?”

“Yes!” squealed Kate. “You were the handsome prince!”

“Guilty as charged,” Luke said, ducking his head modestly.

“Well, you were a very convincing prince,” she said. “I’m sure all the princesses were in love with you.”

“Kate Hayes! There you are!”

Kate looked over to see Carmen standing in the doorway to the patio, smiling tipsily at her. “I’ve been looking at you for forever,” Carm said. “I mean, looking for you. I thought you, like, got locked in a bathroom stall or something.” Carmen’s eyes flicked to Luke, who was leaning against a railing, looking relaxed and happy. “Um, I was going to go home. But you look like you’re having fun! So you should stay!”

Kate opened her mouth. She was having fun talking to Luke, it was true, but she was worried that she was reaching her limits of witty banter. What if they ran out of things to say to each other? Would Luke say good night and leave her standing alone on the patio? “No, I should—”

“Oh, stay!” Carmen cried enthusiastically. “Luke can take you home, can’t you?” She glanced over at her friend.

“Of course,” said Luke. “It would be my pleasure.”

“Great! ’Night, you two!” Carmen said, looking pleased with herself. She blew them both kisses and vanished.

Now what? wondered Kate.

Luke grinned at her. “I guess you’re stuck with me,” he said.

Stuck with Doctor Rose, she thought. Every girl should be so lucky.