Page 73 of Plot Twist
“Poppy, are you seriously going to be this petty?” Dash’s voice simmered with anger. He came to stand next to Sophie, and she had to stop herself from reaching for him. He was handsome in a white button-up shirt and a navy jacket. Sweat ran across his hairline, but she was sure that was just from the lack of strong AC in the tent. Apparently, he’d seen or heard their exchange. But Sophie cringed as she realized that she’d unintentionally dragged him into their fight.
“Is it petty to be mad about my best friend and my brother lying to me for weeks?”
Sophie had to admit that Poppy had a point there. Still, she wanted to nix this line of conversation. Sophie put a hand on Dash’s arm. “I’m fine. You have the speech to focus on, okay?”
His eyes finally met hers, and something in his gaze softened. The familiar spark that crackled between them returned. If she didn’t smother it, she’d catch fire and never be able to extinguish the need she had for him. So she quickly stepped back, but too quickly, apparently, as she tripped and fell with a thump to the ground.
“Ouch.” Her ass had, naturally, fallen on what was undoubtedly the hardest part of the concrete.
As Dash moved to help Sophie up, Kitty materialized from nowhere, like she’d sensed drama and teleported over. She leaned down and said in a hushed and serious tone, “There are no human speed bumps allowed in this tent.” Kitty glanced from Dash to Sophie. Eventually her lips formed a thin line as she glared at Sophie. “That was my way of telling you to get up, love.”
And so Sophie did.
“Dash, it’s showtime.” His mom went to work straightening his suit jacket and brushing invisible dust from his shoulders.
Dash glanced over to her. “I’ll see you out there?”
“I’ll be in the audience. Good luck.” Her body didn’t want to leave the room, even though her brain was screaming to. She took the seat assigned by a placard printed withMontrose Guest, Lyon. The first row was reserved for the Montrose family, whereas hers was five rows back. Not ideal, but at least Dash already knew she was there.
As she waited, her curtain bangs wilted from the heat, and she dabbed at the sweat that started to bead there. The rows ahead of her were crammed with older actors who’d clearly come to support William, and she vaguely recognized some as costars from his early films. On either side of the chairs were two barricades—one for paparazzi and press, and another for fans. Eventually, the Montroses—sans Kitty—took their seats as well.
Sophie sat as still and warm as a roast chicken while she waited for the event to begin. She looked at the time on her phone, and it was ten minutes past when they were meant to start.
Sophie couldn’t help it. She texted Dash.Everything okay?
But when she didn’t hear back and a minute turned into five, she stood and began to make her way toward the front. When she got to the first row, though, Poppy blocked her path.
“My mom is handling Dash,” she said to Sophie.
Sophie exhaled. She had to stand up for herself in order to keep fighting for Dash. So even though she was terrified of saying something less than nice to her best friend, she was going to do what she had to. “Dash needs someone who is looking out forhim.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Poppy said as her tall-as-hell frame loomed over Sophie.
But then, like the phantom she was, Kitty appeared and stepped between them. “Dash will be out momentarily. Poppy, there arecameras. Do sit down. And, Sophie? Get to your row.”
“Yeah, get to your row,” Poppy echoed. Sophie looked between the two women. She knew Poppy was coming from a place of hurt, but what was Kitty’s excuse? Other than being the consummate Mommy Dearest.
Still, Dash was on his way out, which was all she needed to hear. She snuck a glance at Poppy, who stared back at her defiantly. Sophie was absolutely outnumbered in this situation, and she wasn’t about to cause another scene.
As she made her way back to her seat, though, she had a sinking feeling that she was missing something. Because the Dash she knew would’ve texted her back, and that made her worry.
32
DASH
Dash wasn’t someone who normally kept people waiting, but after seeing Sophie and interacting with her as if they were just friends—nothing more—he had a lot of nauseating, overwhelming, and panic-inducing feelings.
Because as Dash had watched Sophie walk away from him—again—he’d realized, with some dread, that hedidlove her. Even if she didn’t love him, he absolutely was filled with nothing but pure love for her. But love wasn’t always enough. Not when his love came with caveats. And Sophie didn’t deserve love with warning labels, though Dash was covered in them.
Warning: Substance abuse issues.
Warning: Deeply dysfunctional family members.
Warning: Former child actor who suffers from massive insecurities.
Sophie deserved perfectly bold love from someone who lit up a room just as easily as she did. But when Dash thought about being with Sophie, it was clear that he was an eclipse of issues threatening to swallow her sunny warmth.
So he would keep his mouth shut. Stay strong. And not let his own feelings derail Sophie’s future. That’s all he could think about when Kitty barged into the room and began to tersely discuss their agreement of a drama-free event. He barely heard her but eventually followed her out the door to meet his handler.
