Starlight Nights by Stacey Kade

Author:Stacey Kade
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

15

CALISTA

“Remember, you need to keep your chin tilted up. Otherwise, this angle is going to do nothing for your cheekbones and make your face look fat,” Lori says, her fingers under my jaw. The empty condo in Eric’s building where we’re filming today is huge. But the condo’s bedroom, which is crowded with people and equipment, is hot, and it’s only getting hotter as the lighting changes are made. And my mother is right on top of me, making adjustments. I can feel stress-sweat trickling down my spine.

“Mom,” I say through gritted teeth. After last night, I expected her to avoid me, claiming more stress or another migraine. But instead, she’s doubled down on her suggestions, interference and general pushiness.

“It would help if they weren’t using all white sheets,” she says with a frown, fussing with the covers over me, straightening them. “It’s only going to make you look larger.”

You’d think a few hours of filming in a bed—not a love scene, but Evie slowly recovering and coming to the realization that her powers are gone—would be somewhat relaxing. But not with my mother here.

“Don’t forget to cry,” Lori says to me, fluffing out my hair around the bandage on my left temple, much to the exasperation of Josie, who just fixed it. “It shows your range.”

I could argue with her, make the point that Evie’s not sad, more relieved at this point, so crying would be an emotional miscue, but at this point, I just want her to back off.

“Are we ready?” Eric calls—rather pointedly, it seems, in the direction of my mother, who is the only person not where she’s supposed to be.

“Yes,” I say, maybe a little too loudly. “Why don’t you go wait by the monitors, Mom?”

But Lori lingers for a moment, her gaze scanning my face.

I brace myself, waiting for the commentary about my chins or wrinkles or shininess.

“You’re such a beautiful girl,” she says softly, her eyes growing bright with tears. “You know that? I’m so proud of you. If I’d had your talent…” She shakes her head.

My mouth falls open.

Before I can respond, she steps away.

What was that? I sag back on the pillows as Eric approaches.

“I’m sorry,” I say to Eric. “I don’t know what she was—”

He shakes his head, dismissing my words with a quick wave of his hand as he gets into position on the windowsill. Cory is sneaking in to see Evie. “Forget about it. It’s Lori.” But for some reason, those words sting a little today, like a slap against sunburned skin.

Yes, she’s terrible sometimes—maybe even most of the time. But she’s my mother.

And yet I don’t know if I can trust her.

“Eric,” I say in a quiet voice, after checking to make sure the boom isn’t directly overhead yet. “I need to talk to you.” My stomach aches. My mother will never forgive me for this when she finds out. And Eric … I trust him with this, but he’ll be frustrated. And angry. On my behalf, yes, but also with me for not doing something sooner.

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