Bliss by Shay Mitchell Read Free Book Online

hours, cash out her tips, go home, cry, and sleep. This job was just an acting opportunity, a chance to test her chops. If she could get through the rest of the night as a bubbly bottle-service girl, she was Oscar worthy. She could walk like a star through a swamp, through a desert, or back up the stairs to the club. She flipped through Instagram and saw a couple of uplifting quotes, one especially stood out: “Before you see light, there must be darkness.” The light was coming; she could feel it. A positive warm rush flowed through her body.
    YOU’VE. GOT. THIS.
    She dug deep, and forced herself to go back upstairs. She made a beeline to Vinnie’s table where Leandra and her friends were sprawled and laughing hysterically at the lowlifes on the dance floor.
    â€œWhat can I get you?” she asked, smiling so hard, it hurt.
    *   *   *
    At dawn, Sophia put herself to bed. As always, she stared at her vision board, wondering if her dreams were worth it. Wesly Shamrock wasn’t the first person to tell her that her best shot at life was to be a bimbo. She couldn’t accept that. If she let herself go down that rabbit hole there was no crawling her way out. Was she deluding herself? She could stare at her vision board until she went blind and never get any closer to her dreams. Hollywood might as well be Mars.
    Demi would say, “You got this, Sophia! You were born to be a star. If anyone can make it, you can. So put on your invisible tiara, and strut, girl, strut!”
    Sophia smiled, picturing her friend’s face, wishing they were in the same city, hoping she was okay. She needed a Demi-shot of love and she was sure the feeling was mutual. Would it be wrong to turn to Demi for help when she might be worse off at the moment? She’d call her in the morning. Even a pity party was still a party, and it’s always nice to be invited.



 
    3
    you have no idea how much i love monkeys
    Leandra’s hangover was epic. The worst she’d ever had, although she said that every time. She and her crew stayed at CRUSH until closing—five A.M. —and she was still drunk now, twelve hours later, at the dinner her parents insisted on having to celebrate her graduation. They’d flown in from Vancouver for the ceremony and had made the reservation weeks ago at some cheesy Italian place. Even in pain, Leandra dressed well. She wore a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress and Jeffrey Campbell sandals.When the waiter delivered her spaghetti and meatballs, she nearly barfed in her plate.
    â€œWe’re so proud of you,” trilled her mom. “If Stacy were here, she’d be so proud of you, too.”
    â€œDon’t talk about her, Jesus,” she snapped.
    Dad frowned, as he always did when Mom brought up Stacy. “We have something for you,” he said, thankfully changing the subject.
    He presented her with an envelope. She tore it open, and pulled out a flight itinerary, a hotel reservation voucher, and $3,000 in cash. She scanned the paperwork, struggling to read with bloodshot eyes. The destination seemed to be spelled Phuket. “You’re sending me to fuck it?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s pronounced poo-ket,” said her dad, annoyingly jovial. “Thailand’s beach haven. The Phi Phi Islands are supposed to be the most beautiful spot in the world.”
    â€œThe pee pee islands in fuck it? Thank you, guys, soso sososo much.”
    Leandra didn’t mean to sound ungrateful, but her head was throbbing and, frankly, it was just the way she related to her parents. Her parents spoiled their only surviving child way past rotten. Her salesman father had always encouraged her inate desire for more. When she haggled for another cookie, he said, “That’s my girl!” At twenty-one, Leandra’s greediness wasn’t as adorable as it used to be (if it ever was), but it was her default setting.
    She’d hinted heavily about