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“You said you’d deal with them”

“I know, and I have, but there was an incident at Smoky’s Cafe” Marina spoke quickly as they headed down the corridor “A few people recognized Mo on with you, and started staring and whispering You kno stupid people can be”

“Oh no,” Jada said

“Oh yes So Mo and pulled the old schoolyard standard, ‘Why don’t you take a picture, it’ll last longer’ And one of the women said, ‘Thanks a lot! I’ll do that!’ Then she pulled out her phone and took a quick shot of Mom and Dad”

“Guess the old take-a-picture taunt has lost its punch these days,” Jada said, noting a quick grin crossing Ian’s face

“Exactly,” Marina said “The wo it with your naone viral Mom’s upset, not because of the picture, but because she’s afraid you’ll think she was out to ride your celebrity coattails And that’s why she wants to talk to you, to make sure you’re not mad”

“That’s the an, then paused for a mo off, but that I’ withcelebrity stuff I’ll call her later”

Marina looked like she wanted to argue, but she gave in “Okay You really will have to call her, though Promise you will”

“Of course I will”

They stopped outside the closed study door Jada took a deep breath and looked at Ian, as perfectly calm and collected as usual

“Are you ready?” he asked

She nodded “You sure you don’tin alone?” she asked Marina

“No It’s best He insisted that he stay, though”

“I kneould,” Ian said “It’s okay”

Marina shrugged “If you say so Good luck I’e Call ed Jada, then walked away

Ian gestured at the door “After you”

Jada’s sweaty palm slipped on the doorknob She and Ian entered the cool, wood-paneled study Ian closed the heavy door behind them and flipped the lock

It smelled of leather, old books and berry potpourri The polished wood floors glealass-fronted cabinets linedof sturdy, coed on a thick Aubusson carpet

In a burgundy leather chair, Trey sat with one leg crossed over the other He glanced up and acknowledged Ian and Jada with a nod

But they hadn’t come to see Trey The one they’d come to see was sprawled on one end of the tufted leather couch, dressed in a gauzy peasant blouse and tight short shorts, long and lean bare legs akiie of trail mix nestled in the crook of a slender arm

Sasha The woman of the hour She scooped up a handful of trail ed to look rapturous and supremely bored at the same time

Jada and Ian sat in chairs next to Trey, across from Sasha

Ian s and not fighting us”

“She fought runtled look in Sasha’s direction

Sasha didn’t notice, brushing cruet it already The gig is up Gotta spill the beans Time to pay the piper Ha! Get it? Pay the piper?”

Jada was uniuess not”

“Co like this You already toldNow tell them what you told me”

She flipped a shiny blonde tress over her shoulder “Fine You people really kno to bring down a mood Where should I start?”

“At the beginning,” Ian said

“Oh, that’s too far back And it doesn’t matter, anyway Let’s just start with how Piper Sandy alas a jealous, mean bitch But she was the bomb in bed, so I may have overlooked certain character flaws for a while I’m not proud of it It hat it was” She tossed back another handful of trail mix and crunched blissfully

Confused, Jada glanced at Ian, who didn’t appear to understand either They both looked at Trey, who nodded sagely

“Piper Sandy?” Jada asked “What’s this got to do with her?”

“You know,” Sasha said “She’s still jealous I should have fessed up right ahen everyone ondering why Piper was being so mean to Jada on her show On and on,on Jada, hy Hey, I didn’t want to admit I’d ever been with that shrew Would you?”