Hollywood Heroine by Sarah Kuhn

Author:Sarah Kuhn [Kuhn, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DAW
Published: 2021-10-26T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

As soon as we set foot inside the plush pink wonderland of The Ripped Bodice, Pippa’s eyes widened with delight and she made a beeline to the opposite end of the store, where the checkout counter was located.

“Look how happy she is,” Evie marveled, as Pippa launched into an animated conversation with the smiling woman behind the pink marble slab that served as the checkout area. “This is better than Christmas. Or multiple trips to Disneyland.”

“I’m so glad to see it,” I said, as Pippa began gesticulating wildly—she appeared to be reenacting a scene from one of her vampire books. The woman behind the counter was nodding furiously in recognition. “She’s been so down about this Shelby thing. And we appear to have finally discovered something that will cheer her up.”

“Aw, and look at you,” Evie said, nudging me in the ribs. “Thinking so intensely about the well-being of our charges. And maybe slipping an actually fun activity into our investigation.”

“You know Aveda Jupiter loves to multitask,” I said, flashing her a breezy grin as I took in our surroundings. Soft white walls emblazoned with patterns of dreamy pink roses. Freestanding shelves crammed with books and surrounded by little tables of candles and trinkets. And in the middle of everything, a velvet pink couch that was just begging to be lounged on. “That looks exactly like the couch at It’s Lit,” I said, naming the Bay Area bookstore where Bea used to work. “Actually, the whole place has a very similar vibe.”

“Yeah, I was texting with Bea on the way over here and she said they’re kind of like sister stores. Alike in spirit, and dedicated to promoting all kinds of happily ever afters,” Evie said, glancing at her phone. “She also wanted to know if Scott’s said anything about her ‘report’ on Mercedes.”

“He hasn’t,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “I fell asleep so hard last night, and then he left early . . .” I manufactured a smile. “I’m sure we’ll talk tonight.”

Evie studied me for a moment longer than necessary, the silence between us punctuated only by a shriek of uproarious laughter—Pippa was still having the time of her life. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that she’d already stacked a teetering pile of books on the countertop.

“Remember back at Morgan?” Evie said, her eyes narrowing. “When I kept saying I was totally fine and you knew I totally wasn’t? Because I think the same thing is happening here—in reverse.”

“It’s not so much ‘I’m fine’ as ‘I can handle it,’ ” I said, rolling my eyes at her. “You were avoiding your problems with all your might. Whereas I’m running headfirst toward them, ready to tackle them to the dirt. That is the Aveda Jupiter Way, after all.”

“Is it, now?” Evie said, the corners of her mouth twitching with amusement. “All I’m saying—”

“Oh hey, girls. This place is cool, huh?”

We both turned to see Kat striding toward us, giant sunglasses affixed firmly to her face.

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.