Chapter 14
fourteen
. . .
Indi
I decide to go to the sandwich shop to see if they need some help. What I don't expect is to walk in and find Kinsley scowling at me over the counter. "Well, there she is—" she says coldly.
A few teens stare at me as they walk out. They're whispering something that seems to have to do with me.
Nev doesn't seem to be interested in whatever bee Kinsley has in her bonnet. She's busy wiping down the work counter.
"What's going on?" I ask Kinsley. Have I just lost my room? Maybe it really was a mistake coming back to Rockhurst.
Kinsley looks past me. "Great, next thing you know, there'll be paparazzi outside the window."
I look back to see what has her attention. The same teen girls are holding up their phones and taking, what I can only assume, is my picture.
I turn back to Kinsley. "What the heck is going on?"
"Seems like I should be asking you that." She pulls off her plastic sandwich prep gloves and drops them in the trash.
"Uh, Nev, can you explain why Kiki is scowling at me?"
Nev is about to answer, but Kinsley lifts a hand to stop her. She swings back to me. "You might have let your best friend know that you were dating Landon Arlo. All the times we texted and talked and you never once thought to bring up that important little life detail."
I sigh in relief that it's not anything important. "I dated Landon Arlo. Then I broke up with him, and now you are all caught up."
"Fine, then don't tell me anything," she says.
"Look, I was working for his agent, you know, the shrew who fired me. She didn't want it to get out because she thought it would hurt him in the fan world. She wanted him to remain that elusive, unattached bachelor. I couldn't tell anyone. Only Weston knew about it, but he was in Germany, and he never bothers with social media, so I knew he was a safe bet."
"Right, but your best friend would have blabbered it all over the world." Kinsley turns to her sister. "No comments from you." She turns back around looking more contrite. "It's probably best you didn't tell me because I would have blabbered it all over the world."
Nev finishes her task and joins us at the counter. "Would you like a sandwich?"
"No thanks, Nev. Jameson fixed me a peanut butter and jelly."
Both sisters exchange what they think is a secret wink.
"Okay, don't know what that's about. I went there to ask him—" I stop, deciding Jameson probably wouldn't want his trips to the cemetery broadcast, and as Kinsley had already admitted, she's a broadcaster. "Never mind."
"Right. So, more secrets kept from your bestie."
"Why do I feel like I just stepped back in time?" I ask wryly. "Anyhow, I stopped by to see if there is anything you need me to do. I can slice tomatoes, clean utensils, anything that will help."
Nev smiles. "Actually, I need some onions sliced."
I force a grin. "Onions. Great."
Both sisters laugh. "She's kidding," Kinsley says. "But I think it would be a fitting punishment for how badly you've treated me. But you can make up for that by giving us the full scoop on Landon Arlo."
"I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement when we started dating. It's kind of standard now in Hollywood, but I can tell you there's not much to tell. I was sure I was going to be more heartbroken about our breakup, but I realize I don't miss him."
Kinsley plucks out her phone, scrolls through it and holds up the now infamous photo of Landon on the sidewalk in his underwear. "What's happening in this very interesting photo? I'm sure you can explain since it's already out there all over the internet."
"That's because it's Landon in briefs. The bedraggled, upset woman standing on the sidewalk is not important."
"I don't know about that," Nev says. "You saw the reaction from those girls who just left the shop. You might be dealing with some nosy reporters soon."
"Shit, I hope not. Anyhow, that photo was taken just as my car was being towed away. An hour after I experienced the trauma of getting fired and losing my apartment, I discovered that my boyfriend was cheating on me. You didn't hear that from me though. I don't need lawyers on my back too. I wish I'd never gone to L.A." Suddenly I'm feeling the anguish all over again. "My life really is a shit show."
"No more pity party," Kinsley says cheerily. "We're all going to the Gold Rush tonight. Sarkasm is playing."
"Sarkasm?" I ask.
Kinsley grunts in frustration. "You really have been living on another planet—apparently making out with out-of-this-world men and not telling me—" She waves her hand. "I'm over it, and I forgive you. Sarkasm—with a k"—she adds—"is Nate's band. They're really good. Of course, it means the place will be packed but we're going." She puts up a hand before I can speak. "You owe me after this huge betrayal."
I look at Nev. She's tamping down a smile.
"Fine. I'll go to the Gold Rush tonight. It'll be nice to get out and have a cocktail or two … or three. I'm long overdue."