Page 35 of Hot Mess

I stood on a small dais in a room surrounded by mirrors. It reminded me of something at a fancy dress shop. I hadn’t expected to see something like it inside Nick’s house. I was beginning to understand what he meant when he said that being an actor was nothing like the movies. I hadn’t moved. I was winning this game of playing a statue, but she kept stabbing me.

“You’re off your game, Lydia. If you think I don’t know what you’re doing, you are in for a nasty surprise. Prick her with a pin one more time and I start deducting from your fee.”

“She’s—” Lydia started.

“She’s holding perfectly still, and you are terrorizing her. Cut it out. I’ve seen you hem a mini dress on a pop diva while she was fighting with her boyfriend and you never once complained about her moving too much. And you sure as hell didn’t poke her.”

“I’m doing you a favor, Isaac.”

“You’re doing your job, now live up to your reputation.”

My phone rang on the couch next to where Isaac sat. He looked at it and held it out to me.

“It’s okay, I’ll call them back.” I didn’t want to move. I was afraid Lydia was going to stab me again.

Isaac shook his head with tight little movements and answered the call. “Kayla’s phone.” He waited a bit. “Sure, hold on hun.”

He held the phone out to me again. “It’s Amber.”

Moving like a robot, I reached out and took the phone.

“Hi, Amber!”

“Oh my God, Kayla. How is it? I want details. What have you been doing?”

“I’m in the middle of a fitting right now. I really haven’t had time to do anything. Let’s say we got in kind of late. I called Mom, I texted you. I’m in a hotel right now. I went straight to bed.”

“Oh, where did Nick sleep?”

“Really? I don’t know. I’m assuming in his own bed at his house.”

Isaac’s eyebrows went up. He could only hear my side of the conversation, and it wasn’t exactly polite conversation.

I smiled at him and shrugged.

“I slept in and after breakfast, I called a car to drive me over to Nick’s house and I started getting ready for this party we’re going to.”

“You’re first day in LA and you’re standing in Nick Sadler’s house before heading out to a party? Are you going to see anyone famous?”

“I have no idea.” I didn’t even know what the party was for. “Best guess it’s not a Christmas party because this dress isn’t red or green.”

“No? What is it? Tell me. Are you in a ball gown?”

I bit my lip. This part of the dream bounced between fantasy and nightmare.

The dress was a deep rich purple, with black lace accents. I felt very glamorous in it. The middle cinched in with corset lacing, and the skirt swooped out with a train.

The first stylist showed up and took one look at me and pitched what could only be described as a fit. It was completely unprofessional. And her choice of words to describe me were hurtful. I didn’t know what I would have done if Isaac hadn’t been there.

He was a frightening man when he needed to be. I was glad he was on my side.

A few phone calls later Lydia had a rack of dresses in my size and a judgmental sneer on her face. She didn’t want to be dressing me. Something she made clear with every stab of hem pin into my leg.

I told Amber an abbreviated version of the story, leaving out how nasty I found Lydia to be.

“That sounds epic Kayla. What’s Nick wearing?”

“I have no idea. Hold on.”

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