Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler Read Free Book Online Page A

Skinnygirl strawberry daiquiris right now.
    Showtime
, I text Liam as soon as Ally looks away to examine another sweater.
    Less than a minute later, her phone rings, and she rolls her eyes when she sees Josh’s name and face on the screen. “Yes, master?”
    â€œWhere are you?” Even I can hear him barking through the phone. Nice touch.
    â€œShopping with Van. Because you very, very explicitly told me I should enjoy my last couple of days in LA.”
    I can’t hear his response, but then she says, “What happened to the one I
just
bought you?” Judging by her facial expression as she listens to the answer, I don’t want to know.
    She sighs and hangs up. “I’m sorry, do you mind? I need to get Josh yet
another
black leather belt from Louis Vuitton, because he doesn’t seem to understand what should and shouldn’t be tied around bed posts.”
    â€œDon’t mind at all,” I say with a grin. Trust Josh to come up with the most ridiculous excuse ever…and for it to probably be true, in addition to convenient.
    After a quick stop for the belt, we get in the car and head up to Josh’s. Not a minute too soon—I was getting itchy under that wig. I’ve got outfits for both me and Ally hidden in Josh’s guest house, but there’s not much I’ll be able to do about the fact that my hair looks sad and flat.
    It’s oddly silent as we approach, despite the mayhem I know is lying in wait back there, and I have to admit that I’m pretty impressed by Josh right now. For someone who can barely keep his own mouth shut, ever, he’s doing pretty well at this whole “surprise” thing.
    Which makes it extra epic when we walk around back and
bam
.
    Ally’s face goes from confused to terrified to ecstatic in seconds, and I can’t help grinning proudly as I watch her take in the surroundings for all of two seconds before people swarm out of every corner of Josh’s house and yard. There are old high school friends, friends from the
Daylight Falls
set, and people
I
don’t even recognize, which of course might just mean they’re random girls Josh wants to hook up with.
    I watch as Ally hugs Josh, kisses Liam, then turns to me with a suspicious raised eyebrow. I nod guiltily and accept my hug, too, but even with her arms wrapped tightly around me and her voice whispering “thank you” in my ear, she already feels three thousand miles away.

    â€œWow, K-drama, what number’s that for you?”
    I glare daggers at the host as he edges me over in my chaise and makes himself comfortable draped over me. “I could ask the same about how many girls you’ve hooked up with tonight. Guess Ally’s already given up keeping you in line.”
    â€œMy my, what do you know? Jealousy looks pretty good on you,” he says with an infuriating smirk.
    I don’t know how Ally’s managed to work for this asshole for a year, but cutting the amount I have to see him in half is definitely the only good part of my best friend leaving. “Don’t make me barf all over you.” I may have had the tiniest bit of interest in Josh Chester
once
, like a billion years ago, but that ship has wrecked. Hard. “I’m not into downgrading, thank you very much.”
    â€œBurrrrrrn!” Royce Hudson reaches over from the next chair and slaps me five. Royce is an even bigger tool than Josh, but I smile around my straw as I take another sip of my coconut-rum thing.
    â€œOh, please. Downgrade, my ass.” Josh snaps his fingers at a passing waitress, making me grimace. “Hey, you!”
    â€œDo you have to be such a dick?” I demand under my breath as I take another sip. This is why everyone thinks all actors are arrogant jerks—far too many of us
are
.
    The girl spins around, loose flame-red curls swinging over bare shoulders tattooed with colorful flowers. “It’s actually two clicks,