Sugar and Spice_ An L.A. Candy Novel - Lauren Conrad [39]
Scarlett sighed, dreading the conversation she would have to have with Liam when this episode aired. It wasn’t a double date. No, he wasn’t trying to cop a feel. Jane was drunk, she didn’t mean that. No, I wasn’t drunk, I was totally sober and I was not flirting with him.
Scarlett glanced sideways at Naveen. He was staring at her, and it made her uncomfortable.
“So I have this assignment I have to do for photography,” Scarlett blurted out. “I have to take a portrait in the style of one of my favorite photographers.”
“That’s cool. Which photographer did you pick?” Naveen asked her.
“I was thinking of Richard Avedon or maybe Irving Penn.”
“Good choices. Do you have a model yet?”
“No, but I’d better line one up soon. The assignment’s due, like, next week.”
“Well, if you’re desperate, I’m happy to volunteer. I’m cool having you shoot me,” Naveen said, grinning. “And since I’m so naturally good-looking, I never require Photoshop.”
Scarlett rolled her eyes at him. She knew he was joking, but as far as she could tell, he was physically practically perfect—no Photoshop or other enhancements required. Of course, she meant this in a purely objective, artistic way. Unlike that night at Hendry’s Beach, when he’d peeled off his T-shirt, and she’d almost stopped breathing at the sight of his sculpted abs and . . .
Stop it! she told herself. She stood up abruptly. “Uh, I’m just going to check on Jane in the kitchen.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, I’m good! I’m great! Just stay here and eat more fish tacos!” Scarlett insisted.
The camera swiveled to follow her as she headed toward the kitchen. Camera, singular. Scarlett noticed that the other camera guy was planted in the kitchen doorway, filming. She had to get away from Naveen. She didn’t want to give Trevor any more opportunities to edit her in a compromising light, making it appear as though she and Naveen were milliseconds away from hooking up. Despite his slight jealousy, Liam was the most awesome boyfriend she’d ever had—actually, the only real boyfriend she’d ever had, period.
“’Scuse me,” Scarlett muttered, inching past the camera guy. “Hey, Janie, do you need some help with—”
She stopped dead in her tracks.
Jane and Caleb were leaning against the sink, kissing.
Uh-oh, Scarlett thought.
Chapter 14
Déjà Vu
Jane sat down on the edge of the pool and gazed at the moon’s reflection on the dark, glassy surface. Caleb sat down next to her and curled his arm around her shoulders. It was after midnight . . . the PopTV crew was gone . . . and the entire apartment complex seemed to be asleep. Naveen had gone home long ago, and Scarlett had gone to bed.
Or maybe Scarlett was standing out on their terrace with a pair of binoculars, spying on Jane and Caleb? Jane didn’t really believe Scar would do that, but sometimes her best friend could be more overprotective than Jane’s own mom and dad.
“Hey,” Caleb said, interrupting her thoughts, “you wanna take a dip?”
“Um, no, thanks. You go ahead, though.”
“What? Where’s the old Janie Roberts who used to dive headfirst into the surf when it was freezing out?” Caleb teased her.
Jane laughed. “She grew up? The new Janie Roberts likes to stay warm. Besides, most of the time you used to push me in, jerk!”
Caleb laughed, too. “Oh, yeah.”
“Soooo. Did you have fun tonight? Was it okay? With the cameras, I mean.”
“It was kind of weird at first. But after a while I figured out that I should just ignore them and be myself.”
Like in the kitchen? Jane wanted to ask him. She slipped off her sandals and dipped her toes into the water. Brrr, chilly. Still, she made herself keep her toes there, figuring they