Page 66 of Living Hell

TWENTY-TWO

Iona

“THE LAST TIME I SAWhim, he tripped me and then laughed,” I said as I shook my head. It’s weird how after all these years I was still irritated by the actions of kids who bullied people.

“He’s the mayor now.” Cara lowered her voice as if speaking it too loud would cause the mayor’s assistant to pale at the fact. Or, maybe she didn’t want Jake to hear. He was doing his worst impression of an office plant, in a black suit standing against a white wall on the other end of the room.

“He probably bullied his way to that position, too. The guy’s a jackass.”

Cara came into town earlier this week.

Over a month ago, she had requested a two-week vacation. Naturally, I thought the movie I was filming would have wrapped by then and agreed to the request. Little had I known, the movie would be canceled and my life would turn into chaos.

Before that, she was arranging my move here and rearranging my schedule. When she flew here three days ago and Jake picked her up at the airport, I hadn’t seen her for over three weeks. I missed her and it was nice to have a friendly face who knew the West Coast me. The adult me and not the young, naïve Iona.

“I met him several days ago when I first came here, and he seemed nice to me.”

Poor, innocent Cara. She had no idea how some people in this town wouldn’t stop until they found your weakness and then poked at it until you broke down. Cara’s weakness was that she’s too nice. I’d seen people walk all over her, and I knew she wouldn’t make it in Hollywood if she kept letting that happen. Instead, I took her under my wing, inspired and encouraged her to not accept no for an answer.

Except from me, of course. I was her boss after all, and I wasn’t about to do dog food commercials or anything like that. Not that there was anything wrong with national commercials. They paid really well, but I had a goal in mind and made sure my résumé reflected it.

Cara’s a quick learner and that’s why she had been my assistant for the last five years. We met at an audition, both of us were trying out for the same role. I got it and she didn’t, and that’s when she made the decision to quit acting. We went out for coffee after, and I listened as she ranted about the superficiality of Hollywood. She was right, but it’s a battle no one was going to win.

I’d love to give up my trainer and not have to put on makeup before I walk outside every day, but it’s bigger than Hollywood now. With social media and the Internet, everyone’s a critic especially when it comes to your appearance.

“Perhaps I can speak with the mayor about that idea you had for a web series. The one about loving your body and loving your mind.” I elbowed Cara and knew that would make her smile.

Her eyes widened. “What? Are you serious?”

I nodded. “Of course. You could scout out people we could feature, and I would interview them.”

It was a great idea and I remember being impressed when Cara came to me with it. But it was right before I left for the shoot of Hell Fire. Most things were put on hold for the shoot.

“You interview them. Right. Of, course.” She clenched her teeth and I wondered why she wasn’t more excited about this opportunity.

Before I could ask her about it, the door opened and out stepped Keaghan Bailey. He had changed. A lot.

I had spoken with him when I first came to town but that was over the phone. This was the first time seeing him in eleven years.

Both of us stood as I took in my nemesis from school.

While he never had been tall, he was fit in high school. Quarterback of the football team and prom king—the typical asshole who always got what he wanted because he thought he deserved it, not because he earned it.

Keaghan had let himself go. A lot. Like, several beers a day with cheese fries, a lot. Maybe with his relaxed body, he was now a more humbled man. Someone who understood what it was like not to have everything handed to him on a silver platter.

Perhaps Cara was right about him . . .

“Well, if it isn’t Iona Dell. You ever get that shit smell off you?” He laughed so hard his face turned red. I thought he’d have a heart attack the way he was wheezing.

“Yes, so funny to have flaming bags of poop left on my doorstep at night. It wasn’t at all difficult for my mom to find the money for a new pair of shoes and get down on her hands and knees to scrub the poop off our porch for days.” There wasn’t even a hint of a smile on my lips, but he nodded as if I thought it was hilarious, too.

He walked over trying to recover from the laughing attack and threw his arm over my shoulder. I heard Jake clear his throat from the other side of the room. Keaghan’s eyes widened when he saw him and quickly removed his arm from me.

“That’s what I liked about you. You were always good for a joke or three. Am I right?” He laughed again and pushed Cara’s shoulder a little too hard. She stumbled back but caught herself before she fell.

I wanted to punch him, but I could hear Babette’s words in my head like some overbearing ghost, “Make nice and your career could take off.”

“As much as I love reliving the worst moments of my life, I believe you have other things to discuss, Mayor.” I couldn’t even say his name. I was afraid I’d projectile vomit if I had.

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