Page 27 of The Princess and the Paparazzi
“I just mean, it changes the culture of our town having so many celebrities around. I’ve always liked how simple and straightforward people are here. That’s part of Ephron’s charm. I hate that people are acting stupid about celebs like Rafe Barzilay and Lorelei Dupont being here, just because they were in a few blockbuster superhero movies. And I gotta wonder whether Dean was thinking about the quality of the performances, or was his decision to involve them really about the bottom line?”
I set the metal coffeepot down with a thunk, grateful that my back is to this man while I consider my response.
“You don’t think Rafe and Lorelei can act?” I spin around. I want to hate him, but instead, I’m struck again by how cute he is.
“Who knows?” Noah peels back the lids on three plastic creamers and dumps the contents into his coffee, one at a time. He stacks the empties neatly. He’s a stacker. Such nice hands. He also doesn’t stir his cream in right away. We both watch the patterns in the swirling liquid. Why was I mad at him again?
“I mean, who knows how many takes those two are used to burning before they get their lines right,” he says. “I’d have to watch one of them live or in a live streaming format before I felt confident saying they could really act,” Noah says.
Oh yeah. That’s why he sucks. He thinks I can’t act.I take in a quick breath and bite down on my lip. What would Kenna say? Kenna. I’m Kenna. But I barely know Kenna.
“Yeah, well, I’m sure they both know how to act,” I say. “Dean knows them well. And what’s wrong with wanting the theater to make money? Most people are pretty excited to have celebs here in town.”
That’s a WAG. A wild-assed guess. I have no clue how the locals feel about having us here. I can only go by what Dean has told me. Which might have been a little fluffed.
“Ugh. Okay. I get it. You’re a Titanium Man fan.” Noah dunks his spoon in the coffee and gives it a rough stir. The belly of the spoon hits the interior of the mug like a warning bell.
“Guilty.” I shrug. Again, wagging it, but judging by the breathless way Kenna reacted to Rafe yesterday, I wouldn’t put her above being a member of the Pedal to the Metal Titanium Man Fan Club. Too bad his fans have no idea how slow he actually drives.
“So, who would you rather see playing Titania and Oberon?” I can’t help myself.
“I don’t know,” Noah replies a little defensively. “Maybe someone with a little more experience on the stage?”
“You know most actors start out doing stage productions, right?” I argue.
“I guess. Maybe I’m being unfair. Rafe’s probably fine.” He pauses to pour some raw sugar into his mug. “It’s more Lorelei who has the rep for stirring things up. She’s the poster child for teenaged rebellion. Poxy Moxie and all that. She’s cool again since she started playing Ember. My students worship her and emulate her every move.” He sighs. “They don’t need to see her brand of bad behavior up close and personal. She could really use someone to rein her in.”
Old news. Old, old, old news. I bristle at the way I’m still being characterized by things that happened nearly a decade ago. I’m never shaking that rep, am I?Rein me in?
I don’t get a chance to defend myself because the bell on the door chimes, and a little man in a black beanie, with a face as pockmarked as an unshelled almond, swaggers in.
“You!” He shakes an accusatory finger at me as he strides toward the counter, cradling his big lens like a baby.
He’s staring at me with fire in his eyes, and for a moment, I freeze. Does he recognize me?
“Kenna, is it? Nice job throwing me off yesterday. But I’ve got my eye on you. I knew that you knew more than you were saying. You and me are gonna be besties this summer, girlie.”
I square up my stance and smile at him. He wants to play? Fine.
“You know the cast is off this week”—I smile at the paparazzo—“but I heard Rafe and Lorelei talking about how they were taking a road trip to Vancouver, BC in Canada.”
“Vancouver?” The paparazzo pulls a tiny notebook and pencil from his pocket and makes a note. “You get anything else more specific?”
“Nope.” I shrug. “But they definitely seemed excited about checking the city out. Something about a night market and Whistler?”
“Thanks for the tip!” The paparazzo grins excitedly, tucks the pencil behind his ear, and turns to go.
Noah watches the exchange and waits till the door closes to comment. He looks thoroughly impressed with me. “Tell me that wasn’t total BS. You wouldn’t really tip that jerk off, would you? Did you just make that up?”
“Yep.” I smile, basking in Noah’s warm, intelligent, chocolatey gaze. I’m starving because I haven’t eaten yet, but it’s better than breakfast.
“Damn! Very convincing.” He grins back at me and lifts his mug in tribute. “You, Kenna … nowyouare a natural actress.”
kenna
I haveno idea where I am or what time it is when Tabitha bangs on the bedroom door in the guesthouse.
“Kenna, aren’t you up yet?” she projects. “It’s me, Tabitha. I have the DNA test kits.”
