Leaving Kylie is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But I mean what I said. I will find a way to get Liesa and me out of this circus. It isn’t going to be easy. The first hurdle is to get Liesa alone, without the camera or Jeri and Tom.

It is no secret I’m on the payroll for Liesa’s Life. Liesa was clear that I was hired to play her boyfriend. I don’t know if she’s aware the goal is to get her into bed. I’m not good at this shit. I get confused on where script and real-life merge. For the first couple of months, she’d been lovey and affectionate (or jealous and controlling if the script called for it) while the cameras rolled and generally friendly when Jeri and Bob vanished. Lately, though, she’s running hot and cold all the time.

She’s either a really good actress or she’s legit falling in love with me. Whatever the case, we need to be allies if we’re going to beat Jonas at his own game.

Liesa likes Kylie. Cares about her. That much I know is real. There’s something about the two of them. They’re more alike than Kylie would ever want to admit. Aside from both being petite and blonde. Something about their determination and their ability to take what life deals them and come back swinging. If I can make Liesa understand we have to stop Jonas and Simone from this insane show, not just for us but for Kylie too, then maybe we can come up with a plan to escape.

I whip in and out of traffic, winding my way to Liesa’s house in the canals beyond the financial district. I look exactly like I should after a day on the beach and rolling in a woman’s bed. Which is to say, wrinkled, sweaty, and all around crumpled. I can’t go home and shower. I’ll have to make the best of it.

The guard at the gatehouse waves me in without having to check. I assume Jeri’s been there to make sure I’m not any later than I already am. I zoom through the now-dark streets and brake sharply in Liesa’s circular drive. Bob emerges from the azalea bushes along the drive and hits me with the spotlight.

Soundlessly, Lurch accompanies him, boom overhead.

Liesa throws open the front door and rushes out. “Oh my god! Are you all right?”

She launches herself into my arms and kisses me.

It’s all I can do not to thrust her away or spit the taste of her out of my mouth. I try for a smile but know it doesn’t quite make it. “I’m really sorry. I lost track of time and forgot about the cruise.”

She steps back and I see she wears a short red tube dress and platform sandals. Her hair is smoothed and ringlets cascade down her back. False eyelashes and perfect liner around her eyes tell me she’s taken special care with getting ready for tonight. She assesses me with narrowed eyes. Normally, she gives no indication she notices Bob or Lurch and the gang, so it surprises me when her eyes flick their way, then laser back on me.

She approaches me and pecks my lips with a chaste kiss. “It’s okay. I’m just relieved you’re okay. I was sure you’d been in a wreck or something.”

She takes my hand and leads me toward the open front door.

Something’s off.

Jeri shouts from the side of the drive. “Cut!” In her shorts and flip flops, she stomps toward Liesa, iPad in hand. “Where’s the conflict? You know this. Your viewers aren’t going to be happy if you let Zach off the hook. Pump it up, here.”

Liesa closes her eyes and Jeri retreats to the shadows.

Jeri’s voice rang out. “Go.”

When Liesa doesn’t move, I jump in. “Okay, the truth is I didn’t forget or lose track of time. I hate sunset cruises. There’s no worse time than riding around with a bunch of drunk tourists guzzling as much free booze as they can squeeze in the hour and half we putter up and down the shoreline.”

Liesa glares at me. “Truth? You wouldn’t know the fucking truth if you tripped over it and bit your lying tongue in two.” She doesn’t say it with her screechy, hysterical voice that is her trademark. The voice late night talk show hosts imitate to peals of laughter. This is something I haven’t heard before.

“Hey.” I hold out my hands and pretend everything is casual and cool. “I didn’t know it was that important to you. I’ll make it up by taking you sailing. I’ll even bring a bottle of wine and a picnic.”

“I hope you sail your fucking boat off the end of the globe and drown. Or get picked off by sharks. Or better yet, get your legs bitten off then bleed to death and drown.” She runs up the steps.

I run after her but she slams the door before I can slip inside. The lock clicks. I bang on the wood. Not because I want to, but because I think it will make good television. She’ll eventually open up, me, Bob, and Lurch will go inside. Liesa and I will have a loud fight. We’ll make up. We’ll kiss. I’ll start to get aggressive and she’ll shut me down and I’ll leave. Jeri will wrap it up for the day, and then I can come back and talk to Liesa.

The spotlight shines on my back. Bang, bang. “Let me in. I’m sorry. Really.”

I expect Liesa to yell something through the door but she stays silent.

“Come on. Let’s talk about it.”

Still nothing.

Jeri motions with slashing her finger across her neck and Bob’s light flicks off and Lurch fades into the bushes like the spook he is. She slams her palm on the door. “Open up, Liesa. This bit is old already.”

Still nothing.

Jeri glares at me. “Looks like you fucked up again, loverboy. I don’t know what I’m going to do with this pile of shit, but you guys better get it together enough to give me something I can work with tomorrow. Or Jonas will shit can all of us and we’ll all be living in trailers down by the river.”

She stomps off with Bob in tow. I have no idea where they stay. Maybe they live together, have wild, abandoned sex after the shooting is finished for the day. Maybe they’re brother and sister. Maybe both? I cringe.

I sit on the brick steps of the porch and wait while they throw themselves and the camera into the van and roar out of the drive. The insects whirr and buzz. Across the drive, bushes rustle and I wonder what creatures scuttle along the ground. After several minutes, I get up and ring the doorbell.

She still doesn’t answer. I punch it again. “It’s okay. They’re gone.”

The bushes rustle again. The fuchsia of the tropical flowers glows in the porch light. I ring and wait. And wait.

Dread rolls around like raw dough in my gut. I think about her tone of voice and the deadly way she caught me in her sights.

I’m in big trouble.

That means Kylie’s in danger, too.