Hollywood Heartbreak by C.J. Duggan

Author:C.J. Duggan [DUGGAN, C.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-03-26T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

‘You’re going to have to be quiet,’ Jay warned, steering me into the courtyard by the arm.

‘I am being quiet!’ I insisted. ‘Let go.’

‘Abby,’ Jay gritted.

‘Geez, someone needs a drink.’

‘And you definitely don’t.’

‘Pfft, okay, Grandpa. Ooooh, look at the pool!’ The water sparkled, as if little white diamonds lay across its surface, enticing me like a magpie to tinfoil.

‘Don’t even think about it.’ Jay steered me clear.

‘Oh, come on! I’ve been near one all night,’ I protested; I was starting to get really annoyed at my personal escort. I was fine, so fine, more than fine, and to prove just how fine, I ripped my arm free of his hold and bolted towards the pool, ready to show him just exactly how okay I was.

I prided myself on my grace and flexibility in many areas of my life: dance and gymnastics, ballet lessons, netball and swimming medals. Not going to lie, I was a massive overachiever in many ways, and all those achievements steered me towards the pool’s edge. I would master the perfect dive into the pool, because I had done so a hundred times before. The ability to slice through the water with barely a splash was kind of my thing – my secret talent, if you will – but it was going to remain a secret no longer. Let Jay look on in wonder; maybe he’d even apologise for doubting my ability.

I was so confident, taking long strides to the pool, then moving into smaller, daintier ones, my arms out to the side, then sweeping up into position. It was like it was all happening in super-slow motion, my approach to the pool edge nearing, Jay calling out my name with no care or concern for who might hear, and what did I care? Let them see. Let them come out onto their balconies and see the master at work; it would be worth the 1 a.m. disturbance of peace to witness my prowess. And it would have been a thing of beauty had I not, on the very last few steps to the pool, tripped over a pool noodle.

I catapulted forward with a scream, before making the most inelegant entry possible. I hit the water so hard I barely had time to register that I was submerged, the air forced from my lungs as I sunk, face down. I found myself wishing for an out-of-body experience just to escape the burning pain that was coiling over my body.

I became overwhelmed with blind panic as I clawed at the water, my wet clothes and heels weighing me down. So this was death? Aussie actress found floating in West Hollywood pool – how very Sunset Boulevard. Knowing my luck, someone would get video footage of my last moments tripping over a pool noodle and sell it to TMZ. I would be a little more famous after death; I only hoped E! True Hollywood Story wouldn’t immortalise me as ‘Noodle Girl’.

Just another broken dream in Hollywood – but not today.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.