Plot Twist(74)

As she waited, her curtain bangs wilted from the heat, and she dabbed at the sweat that started to bead there. The rows ahead of her were crammed with older actors who’d clearly come to support William, and she vaguely recognized some as costars from his early films. On either side of the chairs were two barricades—one for paparazzi and press, and another for fans. Eventually, the Montroses—sans Kitty—took their seats as well.

Sophie sat as still and warm as a roast chicken while she waited for the event to begin. She looked at the time on her phone, and it was ten minutes past when they were meant to start.

Sophie couldn’t help it. She texted Dash. Everything okay?

But when she didn’t hear back and a minute turned into five, she stood and began to make her way toward the front. When she got to the first row, though, Poppy blocked her path.

“My mom is handling Dash,” she said to Sophie.

Sophie exhaled. She had to stand up for herself in order to keep fighting for Dash. So even though she was terrified of saying something less than nice to her best friend, she was going to do what she had to. “Dash needs someone who is looking out for him.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Poppy said as her tall-as-hell frame loomed over Sophie.

But then, like the phantom she was, Kitty appeared and stepped between them. “Dash will be out momentarily. Poppy, there are cameras. Do sit down. And, Sophie? Get to your row.”

“Yeah, get to your row,” Poppy echoed. Sophie looked between the two women. She knew Poppy was coming from a place of hurt, but what was Kitty’s excuse? Other than being the consummate Mommy Dearest.

Still, Dash was on his way out, which was all she needed to hear. She snuck a glance at Poppy, who stared back at her defiantly. Sophie was absolutely outnumbered in this situation, and she wasn’t about to cause another scene.

As she made her way back to her seat, though, she had a sinking feeling that she was missing something. Because the Dash she knew would’ve texted her back, and that made her worry.



32

DASH

Dash wasn’t someone who normally kept people waiting, but after seeing Sophie and interacting with her as if they were just friends—nothing more—he had a lot of nauseating, overwhelming, and panic-inducing feelings.

Because as Dash had watched Sophie walk away from him—again—he’d realized, with some dread, that he did love her. Even if she didn’t love him, he absolutely was filled with nothing but pure love for her. But love wasn’t always enough. Not when his love came with caveats. And Sophie didn’t deserve love with warning labels, though Dash was covered in them.

Warning: Substance abuse issues.

Warning: Deeply dysfunctional family members.

Warning: Former child actor who suffers from massive insecurities.

Sophie deserved perfectly bold love from someone who lit up a room just as easily as she did. But when Dash thought about being with Sophie, it was clear that he was an eclipse of issues threatening to swallow her sunny warmth.

So he would keep his mouth shut. Stay strong. And not let his own feelings derail Sophie’s future. That’s all he could think about when Kitty barged into the room and began to tersely discuss their agreement of a drama-free event. He barely heard her but eventually followed her out the door to meet his handler.

He wanted to get the speech over with. He’d practiced his lines for a week straight, the first time he’d had to memorize a script in years, and he had them down. All he needed to do was step out of his dressing room, make his way to the stage, find Sophie in the crowd, and speak the words to her.

A representative from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce asked for William to come onstage, which was Dash’s cue that he’d be called up shortly. If he could just get through the next twenty minutes, then he’d be okay.

His dad stood next to the podium, and the man at the microphone called on Dash. He took the steps up to the erected stage, and William gave what appeared to be a proud nod, which Dash locked onto. He returned the nod with a practiced hug.

“You all right?” William said into his ear.

Dash frowned at his concern, surprised, but quietly replied, “Yes.”

He was all right. He would be strong. Just as he always had to be.

When Dash got up to the mic, he lowered it to meet his mouth and cracked a joke. “People always think Reece and I are the same height.”

The light chuckles from the audience eased the tension in his shoulders as he settled in behind the podium.

“Where’s Reece?” a voice from the crowd shouted.

“Reece is filming a movie, but he wishes he could be here, because today is a truly important one for our family.” Dash smiled over at his dad, who gave him an encouraging nod. Then he searched the crowd for Sophie, who he knew would be a few rows back, until he landed on her. He sighed in relief as she gave an enthusiastic smile back. He could get through the speech as long as he saw her there. The jittery taps of his fingers stilled as he looked down at his notes, then took in a big breath and began.

“For those of you who don’t know, my name is Dash Montrose, and I am honored to be here today to tell you about how special my dad is. I’m told that the day I was born, he was filming a rock-climbing scene for an action movie called The Devil’s Tongue. Have any of you seen it?” He waited for applause, and some came. “While he was on the edge of a cliff, quite literally, a crew member had my mom on speakerphone as she told him that I was a boy, and she wanted to know what to name me. My dad told her he’d get to the hospital in a dash. But the reception wasn’t great, and all my mom heard was ‘Dash.’ I guess it could’ve been worse—Crag or Rappel could be giving this speech today.”