Beneath the Glitter: A Novel (Sophia and Ava London) (31 page)

“It’s not that, sweetheart,” he said, cupping her face in his hand. “There are things you don’t understand.”

“Tell me.”

“I can’t.” He swallowed.

“Then kiss me again,” she whispered. “Please.”

He did.

Sometime later his phone buzzed and he said, “That’s my sister. I have to go pick her up.”

Ava linked her fingers through his. “Will you come to the benefit? As my date?”

He shook his head. “I wish I could but I have—history with the Ralstons.”

“What you said about Hunter. Being spoiled?”

“He and I used to be friends. But it’s not that. He dated my sister. It didn’t end well. That’s why I wanted to warn your sister.” He reached up to smooth the frown line that had appeared between Ava’s brows away. “And don’t ask me to say more because I won’t.”

“You know me too well.”

“Not as well as I hope to,” he said, standing up. He looked down at her and shook his head, an expression of wonder on his face. “I—I didn’t think this could ever happen.”

“Me neither,” Ava said, standing with him.

“I have to go,” he told her.

“I know,” she said.

But for a moment they just stood there, fingertips and noses touching, feeling the nearness of one another. Then Ava pulled his hand up and kissed him on the palm, folding his fingers over it. “That’s one for the road,” she said.

Motioning for him to stay behind her she opened her door and peered out. With any luck Sophia would be in her room or the kitchen and Dalton could get out without her massive violation of the No Boys in—

Sophia was in the living room when Ava looked out. Ava said, “Hey,” trying for a casual tone.

Sophia said, “You won’t believe this but we’re up to thirty-eight thousand dollars for the shelter and that—” She stopped and stared at Ava. “You’re in love. That’s the Ava-in-love look.”

Ava turned scarlet and put her finger to her lips.

Sophia gave her a questioning look and realizing that she was busted one way or another, or at this point possibly both ways, Ava looked over her shoulder and said to her door, “You can come out now.”

Sophia put on a stern frown. “You know this is a massive violation of one of our house rules,” she said, practically choking as she tried not to laugh. “There’s a hefty fine for it.”

“Which is?” Dalton and Ava asked at the same time.

“He’s going to have to cook us dinner sometime soon,” Sophia said.

Dalton nodded contritely. “I’ll accept the judgment of this court,” he told Sophia. Then he turned to Ava and said, “I really have to go.”

She nodded and walked him to the door. After less time than Sophia would have imagined, Ava was back grinning from ear to ear.

“It looks like you’ve decided to embrace your Fear of Attachment,” Sophia noted.

“It seemed like something I should get comfortable with,” Ava agreed.

“And?”

“And … Sophia, he’s wonderful.”

A few hours later when they were both working Sophia said, “By the way, how many things do you two have in common?”

Ava looked up, thought about it, then shrugged. “I really don’t know.”

Sophia smiled.

LonDOs

Kissing

Ending boytox

Being flexible about house rules

Embracing Fear of Attachment

Having nothing stolen in your robbery

Having raised almost $40,000 for Pet Paradise Beach Bacchanal still three days away

LonDON’Ts

Police who see having nothing stolen as a bad thing (see: Officer Ellington)

Popcorn’s breath

Opting for dark glasses over eye makeup when taking your dog out

27

the laws of fame

The two girls on the beach in their flowing gowns could have been mistaken for water nymphs, if water nymphs wore gold-edged togas. They stood barefoot side by side, one blond, one brunette, hair fluttering around their faces with their toes curled into the cooling sand.

Sophia and Ava stood watching as the last rays of the sun painted the wind-sculpted surface of the Pacific Ocean orange and blue and pink.

Sophia said, “Five months ago, would you ever have imagined—”

“No way,” Ava answered.

Behind them the Ralstons’ house was filled with enough members of the photocracy to have the Beach Bacchanal officially dubbed a royal event. And a huge success. They’d raised over a hundred thousand dollars and the shelter was going to survive. The London sisters were thrilled and humbled. But that wasn’t why they had come out to the beach to celebrate.

Ava pulled out two of the gold-leaf-covered white chocolate lollipops that Lily’s “little chocolate guy in Silver Lake” had made and handed one to Sophia.

“To us,” Ava said.

They clicked lollipops, each taking a bite and letting the rich dark chocolate center explode on their tongue.

“Did you see Lucille Rexford?” Sophia asked Ava as she licked chocolate from a finger. “I couldn’t believe she came.”

Ava nodded. “I still haven’t figured her out yet.”

“Think we ever will?” Sophia asked, but was interrupted by the sound of a commotion that filtered across the sand toward them. Ava turned and shaded her eyes with her hand to get a better glimpse of the Ralstons’ patio. “What do you think is going on up there?”

“Maybe it’s whatever Lily got instead of doves,” Sophia suggested. “Knowing her it could be alligators.”

Ava squinted. “Or two men and they’re coming down here. Probably reporters.”

She and Sophia linked pinkies and turned to face the men crossing the beach toward them. As they got closer they looked less like reporters and more like—

“Sophia and Ava London?” the man in the suit jacket and chinos asked, as though their picture hadn’t been on a dozen magazine covers and there was anyone else on the beach.

They nodded.

“You’re under arrest. Please come with me.”

“What are you talking about? There must be a mistake.”

“Not if you’re Ava and Sophia London,” the cop said humorlessly.

Ava looked at Sophia and whispered, “Let’s run for it.”

Sophia shook her head. “Whatever this is—”

“—we’re better off facing it,” Ava finished.

“Probably.”

They each took one last glimpse over their shoulders at the sea, then turned and followed the police.

What happened next had the surreal quality of a dream, or something that happened to someone else. Ava and Sophia were booked and fingerprinted and had their photos taken. They were separated and shown to interrogation rooms. They were each questioned about the three checks from their checkbook written for a total of $110,000 to
CASH
that had emptied the Pet Paradise benefit bank account the day before.

All three of which came from the end of the checkbook that Hunter had given them.

All three of which had been signed by Sophia London.

“Those can’t be real,” Ava and Sophia protested in their separate interrogation rooms.

Only later did they find out about the anonymous call that had been placed right as they were being escorted into the squad car. The call that got them freed.

The voice on the tape of the call the police played for them was scratchy and unrecognizable but the words were clear. All too clear.

“The London girls are innocent. It’s Dalton Portland you’re looking for, man. P-O-R-T-L-A-N-D. He’s your man.”

LonDOs

Nineteen passed hors d’oeuvres

Sixteen desserts

Lily’s chocolate guy in Silver Lake

Bronzer from Blush.com

Getting out of jail after only two hours

Sophia ending her boytox

(But with who?)

(You’ll see)

Large double-pepperoni pizza with cheese crust

LonDON’Ts

Getting arrested

In a toga

Getting released after only two hours because the guy you like was arrested in your place

Kittens who can’t tell the difference between a table and a pizza

epilogue

friend or faux?

On a deserted beach near Zuma, he lit a bonfire. He stood, watching it sputter and smoke, hands in his pockets for a long time before trying to relight it.

From behind him he heard a woman’s voice saying, “What are you burning? It smells foul.” Peering into the flames she saw a large photograph of paparazzi gaping at the terrace of the Ivy curling at the sides as the fire licked it, the last three letters of the photographer’s signature still visible.

“I hear they found the practice signatures in his hand when they went to arrest him. Nice work,” the guy said.

She shook her head. “It was almost too easy the way they never lock the door of that trailer.” Then she gestured at the curling photograph. “I wish you hadn’t done that. I liked it.”

“It’s trash, babe. Besides, we don’t want to leave any evidence behind.”

She shook her head, sending blond hair flying left and right. “Always thinking. How much did we get?”

“A little over a hundred thousand dollars. And it’s totally untraceable.”

“Not bad for an afternoon of work.”

He draped his arm around her shoulders and together they watched the photo burn as the setting sun blazed a trail across the ocean.

Find out what happens next!
Don’t miss the second London sisters novel,
coming Summer 2013.

About the Authors

Elle and Blair Fowler began filming makeup and fashion tutorials for YouTube in the summer of 2008. Their videos quickly garnered millions of views and national media attention. They live in Los Angeles and are currently launching their own makeup line.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously.

BENEATH THE GLITTER.
Copyright © 2012 by Elle and Blair Fowler. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.stmartins.com

Cover design by Michael Storrings

Cover photograph by Herman Estevez

ISBN 978-1-250-00618-9 (hardcover)

ISBN 9781250016331 (e-book)

First Edition: September 2012