TWENTY
DIRTY RAT
I’m bent over my laptop scouring the Internet for dirt on Anthony Kent for the third day in a row when I hear the front door slam. Five seconds later, Josh walks into my bedroom and face-plants onto my bed.
“How’s it going?”
“Peachy.” His words are muffled by my duvet. “Third preview is done and I only screwed up five cues.”
“Much better than the nine from last night.”
He flips onto his back. “Right? I think I should get a bonus or something. To be honest, I think my choice to not bring up Liam’s spotlight for his first entrance was bold and unexpected.”
“I’m sure Marco didn’t expect it.”
“Yeah, he yelled at me. A lot. See, this is why I like being second-in-command. When I’m in the background there are fewer people kicking my ass.”
“Have you kissed Angel yet?”
He looks over at me and scowls. “Are you seriously asking me this? The woman who’s drilled into me since we were teenagers that I’m not allowed to mess around with girls on the shows we’re running? Just because you didn’t have the willpower to resist jumping Quinn doesn’t mean I have to travel that slippery slope.”
“She still scares the crap out of you, huh?”
He throws his arm over his eyes. “She’s just too goddamn perfect. It’s intimidating.”
“Poor baby.” I finish scanning the article I’m reading and grunt in frustration. “Dammit! Anyone as sleazy as Kent must have some skeletons in his closet, but I’m coming up empty.”
“So your revenge plan is still a bust?”
“So far. But I’ll get there, don’t worry. It’s just a matter of how and when. Do you have something for me?”
“Oh, yeah.” Josh pulls his phone out of his pocket and hands it over. Since Liam and I can’t see each other, and we have no idea if his phone is being monitored, Liam has been videoing himself on Josh’s phone. It’s not as good as a phone call, but at least I get to hear his voice and see his face.
I bring up the latest entry. He appears on the screen in his costume. He must have filmed it straight after exiting the stage tonight. God, he looks sexy in that leather doublet.
“Hey, Liss. Hope you’re having a good night. I freaking miss you. So much. The previews are going well, but it’s not the same without you. And if Josh forgets to bring up my spotlight one more time, I’m going to kill him.” Josh grunts and waves his hand. “If you’re listening, Josh, I’m not kidding. Get it together, man.”
I smile as Josh flips him the bird.
Liam leans his elbows on his knees and sighs. “Anyway, I can’t believe I still have to go through the motions with Angel as we leave the theater every night. She says hi, by the way. She said she misses you and she’s pissed about you getting fired. She also wants to pull out Kent’s toenails with rusty pliers. Keeping up the charade isn’t fun for either of us anymore, and now, there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. To make things worse, Angel won’t shut up about Josh. It’s boring as hell.”
Josh sits straight up and frowns at the phone. “What the . . . ?”
“Josh is freaking out over that piece of information, isn’t he?”
Both Josh and I say, “Yes.”
Liam chuckles. “I can just imagine. Now that he’s running the show, he has a new air of authority, and I guess Angel finds it hot.”
Josh puffs up like a peacock. “I have an air of authority? Hell, yeah.”
“Now, Josh,” Liam says. “I need to say something to Liss alone, so do me a favor and get the hell out, okay?”
Josh sighs and stands. “Fine. I’ll take my air of authority and go. Guess I can be all hot and authoritative somewhere else.”
After Josh closes the door behind him, Liam exhales and looks into the camera. “I really hope he’s gone or this is going to get awkward, real fast. I fucking miss you. Everything about you. I miss your face. Your lips. Your body. God, Liss, I’m dying to see you. Not even sex. I just need to hold you. Can’t we just meet up somewhere for a few hours?”
He drops his head. “I know we can’t, but I really want to. Did you hear that Kent has organized an interview on Sunday night for us with Angel’s sister Tori? An exclusive live chat so Angel and I can reaffirm our love and assure everyone we’re stronger than ever. I don’t think I can do it. I really don’t. I’m so tired of pretending. I can’t wait until all this is over and I can tell the world I’m in love with you. For real.”
There’s a noise behind him, and he looks over his shoulder. “K, I’d better go. I have to get changed and go sign autographs at stage door with Angel. It’s required.” He looks back at me, and smiles. “I’ll talk to you soon, okay? I love you.”
He reaches forward, and then the screen goes black.
I lie back on the bed and close my eyes.
Kent is such a prick for making them do that interview. It’s like rubbing salt into their wounds.
My need to take him down intensifies.
Apart from a few incriminating posts about him on a site called Agents Behaving Badly, the Internet has been a bust, so if I want to put this guy in his place, I’m going to need to think creatively.
I deepen my breathing and concentrate. In order to catch a rat, I need to think like a rat.
If Kent were me, what would he do?
I go through several different scenarios until a kernel of an idea hits me.
Oh. Wow. Could that actually work?
I think it through some more, and when I’m done, I feel myself smiling. It’s so simple, it’s genius.
They say you have to fight fire with fire? Fine. That’s what we’re going to do.
I sit up and yell, “Josh!”
Within seconds, he’s poking his head around the door. “You bellowed?”
“I have an idea, but it’s risky. And it’s going to take all of us to pull it off.”
Josh flops onto my bed with an excited expression on his face. “Sounds pervy. Count me in.”