Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler

agreement and take another long drink, probably crossing my eyes in an effort to avoid hers.
    â€œI’m guessing being surrounded by that boys’ club doesn’t help.”
    I snort, then realize again that this girl has seen way too much of Not-So-Nice Vanessa. “They’re good guys,” I manage, like anyone would believe that. “Sorry you’re not really seeing everyone at their best.”
    To my surprise, she throws back her head and laughs. “Jesus, you have no idea who I am, do you?”
    Is that a trick question? “Umm…the waitress? From before?”
    â€œMan, Jade was right. No one
does
notice the help.”
    And that’s when I realize why her voice sounds vaguely familiar, and my stomach drops. “Holy shit. You’re her intern. Brianna.”
    She laughs again, and it’d be a nice sound if it weren’t totally at my expense. “She would kill you ifshe heard you right now, you know.
Remember
,” she says, switching into a dead-on impersonation of my publicist’s tone, “
you are America’s Sweetheart.
”
    â€œOh God.”
    â€œNice to meet you, too, though feel free to call me Bri,” she says with a grin, showing those dimples for real this time. Together with her side-swept bangs and beachy red waves, they should make her look like a cutesy doll, but they’re balanced by her tattoos and all-black ensemble—including her fingernails and the plastic frames around her startlingly light green eyes.
    Eyes that, I realize now, look exactly like Jade’s.
    â€œAre you…related?”
    â€œYup. Unless anyone asks. Then…nope.”
    â€œI appreciate you sharing your secret with me,” I say with a smile and feel a little twinge at how sincerely I mean that. Ugh. Clearly too much alcohol.
Clearly.
Where the hell is Zander, anyway? Shouldn’t he have been the one to come after me? Why did Brianna?
    Wait. Why is Brianna even here at all?
    â€œYou’re spying on us,” I say flatly, my stomach sinking a little with the realization. And here I thought I was the actress.
    For a second, she looks taken aback, but just as quickly, she rearranges her face back into the same blasé expression she had when Josh snapped her over. “Basically.” She shrugs. “Sorry. Mommy Dearest’s orders.”
    â€œThat’s really, really screwed up.” I shove the glass of water back into her hands. “You’re both really screwed up. This is a private party, you know. There aren’t even any paparazzi here.”
    â€œNo, just a billion cell phone cameras,” she says with a roll of her eyes. “You dropped your persona in two seconds in front of me when you thought I wasnobody but a waitress. What if I’d gone to the press or even just a little blog with the story of how Vanessa Park isn’t the sweetheart they think she is?”
    Is it possible to hate someone this early into meeting them? Because that’s exactly how I feel. And only part of it is because I know she’s right.
    â€œYou can tell your
mother
that I’m so sweet, I won’t even get you kicked out of Josh’s party right now,” I say with as much honey in my voice as I can muster, although it sounds more like vinegar when it comes out. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find my boyfriend.”
    She steps away to let me go, and I storm past her, my cheeks burning for far too many reasons to contemplate.

Chapter Five
Josh
    I’m all for Liam getting the part in the Lassiter movie, but after years of watching him be treated as Hollywood’s hottest body when he barely breaks a tenth of the sweat I do to look this good, I have to admit I’m enjoying watching him struggle as he bench presses next to me.
    â€œHoly Mother of God,
what
is happening to me?” he whines as he replaces the barbell.
    â€œLooks like someone was up all