Jillian Dodd - Hate Me

I look at the movie paused on the screen. “I’m pretty sure we know now where the name Vincent came from. But his grandmother was the actress, Viviane Sharpe. I’m not sure when he started going by Vincent Sharpe, but it’s the name he uses professionally.”

“I’m not a big movie buff, but I know who Viviane Sharpe was. I suppose that name helped him get ahead in the industry.”

I nod. “Yeah, probably. Still, it’s weird though. Do you think Vincent is the killer in the movie? Or the guy she ends up with?”

“I don’t know,” Cooper says, then rewinds the part we just missed.

We watch as Vince puts his hand gently on Lacy’s shoulder.

Are you freaked out by everyone dying? he asks as he hands her a box of candles.

A little, she admits. You?

She holds out a candle and he lights it.

(The cinematography on this scene is gorgeous. Dark room, only lit by moonlight. Vince and Lacy’s faces suddenly glowing in the candlelight. Mom looks angelically beautiful. And I can see why a boy who thought his mom was a whore fell in love right then and there.)

Vince touches Lacy’s hand and says , Don’t worry. I’d never let anything happen to you.

Lacy places the taper into a candlestick and sets it on the kitchen table.

Then she does what she’s famous for. The corners of her mouth form a little smirk, which slowly spreads into her famous megawatt smile.

Thanks, Vince, she says sweetly, blushing.

And you feel it. Something between them. A little spark.

Cooper pauses the movie. “Does it freak you out, watching this?”

“Um, no. Why?”

“That smirk that builds to the big smile. It’s like I’m watching you.”

I’m flattered, which makes me smile.

“See, you just did it. When you first met Vincent, you were in a bikini, right?”

“Yeah, and in the picture that was missing from Mom’s set trailer.”

Cooper nods and presses play. “Vince likes her, don’t you think?”

“For sure. What you can’t tell is if Lacy likes him back or if she’s just being nice.”

“Let’s keep going.”

I heard you might not be coming to Egypt. You shouldn’t let him hold you back, you know.

I know, Lacy says softly. But I love him.

He’s an asshole.

We’ve had this conversation before, Vincey.

“Vincey? Does my mom not see the parallels between this movie and life?”

“I think this explains why she was planning to leave Tommy,” Cooper states. “But she’s looking at it from her perspective. I’d say your Brooklyn is in more danger than Tommy.”

“Shit.” I knead my forehead. “I hope Vincent shows up and thinks I’m back. I need to keep B safe. And I’m so grateful my grandpa is handling the takeover.”

“Are you in love with Aiden or Brooklyn?” Cooper randomly asks.

I frown at his question.

“I’m not trying to interfere in your love life, but . . .”

“Anyone I love will be in danger.”

“Exactly.”

“That’s why I didn’t want to be at Eastbrooke while we did this.”

Have you made a decision?

Yes. I’m not going. I’m sorry. I know you’ll have an amazing time without me.

Vince’s eyes smolder as he says, Just answer me this. If he wasn’t in the picture, you’d go, right?

Tears gather in her eyes. Yeah, probably.

Vince takes the candles out of her hands, sets them on the table, and pulls her into a hug.

She gives him a sad little smile and then says, I better get back out there.

* Not long after this, Still-Bikini-Clad Lacy screams again as Dead Partier #4 is found. It’s the girl who was upset earlier. Apparently, she and Lacy were close, because Lacy starts crying and Matt pulls her into a hug. After dead body #4 is found, the four remaining partiers finally sober up.

This is getting creepy, Still-Alive Party Girl #5 says.

“I agree,” Cooper says.

I’m starting to think these weren’t accidents, Matt deduces brilliantly.

I think you’re right, Lacy agrees. She takes a band from her wrist and pulls her hair up into a high, tight ponytail.

I pause the movie and stare at the screen, feeling like I’m looking in a mirror.

The captain announces our decent and asks us to buckle up.

“We’ll watch the rest on the way back,” I tell Cooper, shutting off my laptop and stowing it.

We fly into Van Nuys Airport, which is closest to Malibu, easy to get in and out of, and one of the only airports in the Los Angeles area that has no hourly restrictions regarding when flights can take off. We don’t have the time to airport-hop, so I did something else to shield our identity. I opened a fractional ownership under Cooper’s name and bought a chunk of hours. I figure Cooper Steele kind of sounds like an actor, and he kind of looks like he could be one, too. With my darker hair and our comfortable relationship, we’ll easily pass as brother and sister.

Our pre-arranged driver picks us up and shuttles us to Malibu, dropping us off at the Malibu Lumberyard.

“We have time for some fish tacos,” I say, suddenly craving them.

“As long as you keep the wig on, I’m fine with it. I’m hungry. Besides, we need to go over your plan for tonight in detail.”

The restaurant is crowed, so we sit at the bar. Cooper picks a spot close to the doors to the kitchen. I notice he chooses a seat with his back to the wall, facing the crowd. I sit down next to him.

I look at the tables around us and spy someone I know. “Sand—” I start to blurt out loudly, but Cooper quickly covers my mouth with his hand.

I take a deep breath. “I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I forgot for a second.”

“You’re also wearing a wig.”

“Shit,” I say, glancing down at my brown curls. I close my eyes and think. “It might be a good idea for me to be seen here. As me.”

“If the goal is for Vincent to think you’re back in Malibu, I would agree. But we need a plan.”

After a brief discussion, I walk out of the restaurant with my head down and go into a nearby restroom, emerging as myself. I quickly go into one of the stores, buy a new outfit with cash, and then wear it back into the restaurant. As I make my way back to Cooper, I purposefully walk by Sander.

“Sweetheart?” he says. I smile, remembering his adorable nickname for me.

“Sander!!” I squeal, throwing my arms around him and causing a bit of a scene. “How are you? How’s Grease ?”

“In the can. Big Memorial weekend release,” he says proudly, kissing me on the cheek.

“That’s awesome!”

He pushes me out and takes a hard look at me. “You look amazing. Where the hell have you been hiding? I come back and Cush is gone, and you’re nowhere to be found.” Then he whispers in my ear, “Rehab?”

I laugh. “More like an all-girls school in the middle of nowhere. You heard what happened with Cush, right?”

“Yeah. It’s a shame. That boy hit the jackpot when he dated you.”

“That’s why I love you. You feed my ego.” I give him another big hug.

“Join us for a drink?”

“Us?”

With his arm still draped across my shoulder, he turns me toward his group. “Keatyn, this is Danny Woodyard, the choreographer of Grease , Dylan George, one of the T-Birds, and Donnie Van Zandt, one of the dancers. Everyone, this is Keatyn Douglas. Abby Johnston’s daughter.”

The boys all ooh and aah over my mom and her acting brilliance.

Gay men love her.

“Can’t wait to see her new movie! It’s going to be just scrumptious.”