Sugar and Spice_ An L.A. Candy Novel - Lauren Conrad [74]
“Listen, there’s something else—” Scarlett began.
“Jane! Scarlett! I’ve been looking all over for you girls!”
Scarlett saw Dana marching toward them, a walkie-talkie in one hand and a clipboard in the other. “You two have to get miked now! Jane, we need to shoot a super-quick scene of you and Hannah doing some final prep. And, Scarlett, you need to get over to St. Mark’s Square ASAP.”
Jane looked alarmed. “Final prep? What final prep? Everything’s all set.”
“Just make up some minor crisis. It doesn’t matter. We need a couple of mike packs over here, please!” Dana shouted to one of the sound guys.
Jane squeezed Scarlett’s hand again. “To be continued,” she whispered, out of Dana’s earshot. “About Liam . . . don’t worry. You guys are in love, and you belong together. It’s gonna be okay.”
“Yeah, I hope so.”
Scarlett gave Jane a quick hug. In love? They had never said, “I love you.” But Scarlett knew it was true. It’s too bad that it almost took breaking up for her to realize it.
Scarlett finished getting miked and headed for the doorway. She noticed that Gaby and her publicist were gone—in fact, everyone seemed to be spilling out of the room and into the hallway. Jane had mentioned that Aja and Miguel were going to be boarding a gondola somewhere soon, then traveling via canal to the St. Mark’s Square part of the hotel. There, they would make their grand entrance in front of hundreds of masked guests. Soooo Vegas!
Then Scarlett caught sight of Aja and Miguel at the back of the pack, momentarily alone. The couple exchanged a quick, tender kiss before rejoining their entourage.
God, they’re actually in love, Scarlett thought, surprised. It’s not just for the cameras or for publicity.
Scarlett pulled her cell out of her clutch to check the time. If she hurried now, maybe she could make a late flight back to L.A.? She could pack her bag, leave a quick note for Dana along with her mike pack (Sorry, family emergency!), and send Jane a text (IT’S ALL GOOD. LUV U). And then she could rush home and find Liam and tell him what she should have told him a long time ago.
Which was that she was absolutely, positively, madly in love with him. He was pretty much the best thing that had happened to her, ever.
She was also going to tell him about her decision to leave the show and USC and transfer to a new college. How would he take the news? Would he scoop her up in his arms and vow to follow her to Yale or Harvard or wherever because he was in love with her, too, and he couldn’t live without her? (Yeah, wishful thinking.)
Flush with nervousness and excitement, Scarlett turned on her way-too-high designer heels and half ran, half hobbled to the elevator banks. She felt strangely free.
Once on the ninth floor, she rushed out of the elevator—and stopped in her tracks. A PopTV camera guy and Matt the director were positioned a little ways down the hall. They had their backs to her, and the camera guy was filming a girl with big hair and a ruffly red dress walking into one of the rooms.
Scarlett frowned. Wait, was that her room?
After a moment, Scarlett realized that no, that wasn’t her room, which was two doors to the left of the elevators; it was actually Jane and Caleb’s room, which was two doors to the right. She also remembered that Gaby was wearing a dress just like that downstairs.
Now Scarlett was thoroughly confused. Had Dana decided to do a quick scene with Jane and Gaby up here, before the party started? What about the Jane-Hannah scene?
But Scarlett had no time to stick around and find out. She had to slip in and out of her room and make her escape before Matt or anyone else could stop her. She was on a mission.
Chapter 30
What Happens in Vegas
“The gondola’s gonna be here in about ten minutes.” Hannah’s voice crackled over Jane’s earpiece. “I’ll make sure the DJ has their song ready.”
“Great!” Jane said excitedly. “Everyone’s got champagne . . . place looks awesome . . . I think we’re ready to start this party!”
Jane signed off and walked briskly across St. Mark’s Square, which was