Hate Me

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 pla

“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 a

“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 Da

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.”

“So what’s your next movie?” I ask Sander, changing the subject.

“Not sure. I want to choose the right project. My agent called me yesterday wanting me to do a screen test for that remake of your mom’s old movie. Hey, we could star in it together. They want me to play the boyfriend. How easy would that be?”

Shit. I need Sander to stay far away from Vincent.

I grab the fruity martini they ordered me, take a big drink, and look toward Cooper. “Oh, wow. I didn’t even see him over there.”

“Who?” Do

“Cooper Steele,” I say, drawing his name out. “I’ll go get him. I feel bad making him sit over there and wait for me.”

“Girl, you should always play a little hard to get,” Dylan tells me.

I saunter over to Cooper. “You’re going to have to pretend to be really into me, okay?”

“Got it,” he says, all business as I grab his hand and lead him back to the boys. But as soon as I introduce him to everyone, he becomes a cad, stealing my martini, drinking half of it, and placing his hand firmly on my ass.

“So, Cooper Steele, where did you get all those muscles?” Do

Cooper shrugs like he was just born this way.

“The Steele Building Workout,” I say discreetly.

“Sexy name for a workout,” Dylan says. “I dance too much. Can’t seem to put on any bulk.”

“Eat more protein and lift weights,” Cooper says. “You need to balance out all the aerobic activity.”

“Are you a personal trainer?” Sander asks, sizing Cooper up and noting his hand placement.