Relatively Famous (23 page)

The photographer, even as he was gasping for breath, lifted his camera and took a picture of Dani. Mark looked incredulously at the man. “Are you serious?”

“What do you expect? She’s hot, man.”

Mark tore the camera from the man’s hands and hurled it into the bushes.

“Do you have any idea what that camera cost?” Mark’s victim whined.

Mark held the man’s stare for a moment, as if considering whether to hit him. Mark drew his arm back.

“Dad! No!”

Mark glanced at Dani and reluctantly stepped back. “Get your miserable ass out of here. Now,” Mark fumed.

Dani stared at her father. There was something about watching him take charge like this that was spellbinding. Mark was protecting her. He walked
toward
her
.
Dani reached out and took his hand. She could feel him shaking.

“Don’t blame me. She’s the one in the string bikini,” the photographer taunted.

Dani felt her father clench her hand as he stopped in his tracks. He whipped around.

“You already choked me. I’ll sue you for assault,” the photographer said smugly.

“I’ll show you assault.” Mark stepped forward and delivered a solid punch, sending the man staggering backward. He kept his eye on the photographer as he backed away. He held out his hand to take Dani’s hand. “No more bikinis.”

“Okay.”

Dani leaned her head against his powerful arm and walked with him to the top of the driveway. She hugged her father tightly. Mark felt tense, frozen against her. Dani pulled his arms so he would hug her back. And he did, nearly crushing her with his strength. But his embrace was strong and safe. He pressed his cheek to the top of her head
,
and Dani clutched him even tighter.

Chapter 44

“Please don’t say anything. Just let me talk.” Dani stood in the flower shop and looked pleadingly at Olivia.

“What are you doing here?” Olivia asked sternly, and she continued cutting stems from a bouquet of roses.

“I came to apologize to you. This was all my fault.”

“No, not all of it.” Olivia sighed and set down her scissors. “I told you the first time I met you that going out with someone like Mark would be disastrous.”

“It shouldn’t have been disastrous, though. I’m so sorry for that. Please don’t be mad at him.” Dani looked down at her feet. “He didn’t do anything wrong. I did. I hated how much time he was spending with you. And I was punishing him for…well, for a lot of things. But I’m leaving in two days
,
and then my dad is going to be all alone. He needs you, Olivia.”

“I don’t need him,” she said firmly.

“Please, will you just come to the house tonight? At seven?”

“Absolutely not.” Olivia’s eyes flashed. “Would you leave, please? I can’t even look at you right now, Dani. Go home.”

“I know I deserve that. But don’t come
to the house f
or me, come for him. He’s miserable, Olivia.”

“Well, so am I.” She lifted t
he roses up and set them gently into a vase of water. “So am I. But it’s over.”

“Seven o’clock,” Dani pleaded. “At least think about it.

Olivia refused to look at her again. “Please leave.”



“I wish you’d told me where we’re going, Dani. I di
dn’t know what to wear.” Mark was dressed all in black—maybe to match his mood. Dani had asked him to put on nice clothes and to come down to the pool before seven.

“I said
casual
not
funer
e
al
. But you look good,” Dani said approvingly. “Now come sit down.”

Mark took a few steps forward before he took in his surroundings. All of the potted trees had been pushed together, creating a large semicircle around a bistro table. Twinkle lights hung on the trees were just beginning to sparkle as evening approached. Music piped through the sound system
,
and floating candles drifted slowly across the pool’s surface.

“What is all this?” Mark asked.

“Come stand here.” Dani beckoned him. “Just stand with me.”

She looked so excited. Her cheeks were flushed
,
and she clasped her hands together anxiously. She did not have on any makeup,
and
her hair was pulled back simply
.
F
or the first time, he could see himself in her features.

“What are we doing?” Mark asked.

“We’re waiting,” she said with certainty.

“For what?” Maybe Dani was having some of her friends over? But there were only two places set at the table.

“We’re just waiting.”

Mark finally sat down. Thirty-five minutes went by. It was dark, with the only light coming from the decorations. Dani’s eyes were fixed on the path that leading to the patio. “Dani, this is getting silly. Why are we out here?”

“I can’t believe she didn’t come,” Dani whispered.

Mark’s heart sank. “Olivia. We were waiting for Olivia, weren’t we?”

Dani didn’t answer.

“I don’t think she’s coming.” Mark stood up. “I see what you were trying to do, Dani, but you can’t force her to be with me. Kid, it just wasn’t going to work out with us, I guess. I love that you tried so hard, but it’s not going to happen.” Mark hung his head. He had called Olivia for weeks after their breakup
,
but she had never answered his calls. He’d blown it. “We didn’t break up because of you. It was more complicated than that, and I should have done more. Let’s just go inside and—”

“She came,” Dani’s voice lifted. “I knew it.” Dani smiled and patted Mark’s arm before leaving.

Olivia stood a few yards away
.
Mark forced himself to breathe, taken aback by how painful it was to see her. He could see the hurt in her face.

“Mark.”

His heart ached at the sound of her voice. He wanted to speak, but he didn’t know what to say.

“I’m sorry I said what I did about you and about Dani. I was mad at myself
,
and I took it out on you,” Olivia said. “You were everything I thought I didn’t want. Macho. Narcissistic. More gorgeous than you deserve. An actor, of all people. I never expected to fall so hard for you, and I got scared. I was trying to push you away that night. And you let me.” She unexpectedly dropped her face into her hands. “Why didn’t you stop me?” she sobbed.

Mark stepped forward until he there were only inches between him and Olivia. “I should have, but I was scared, too.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in. “I’m sorry for everything. I messed up with you and with Dani. Will you let me make things right?”

Olivia looked into his eyes. “I hate to admit this,” she said as she wiped away her tears, “but I always wanted one of those ridiculous movie kisses. You know, the one where the guy dips the girl backward and then they kiss passionately?”

Without hesitating Mark swept Olivia backward and kissed her deeply.

Chapter 45

Dani left her father a note before going over to Kayla’s for the night. She needed a friend right now. She was hoping to make it to the safety of Kayla’s room without running into Nathan. The housekeeper let her in.

“Hi, Dani,” Kayla called from the second
-
floor balcony. “Come on up.”

Dani started up the stairs.

Kayla frowned. “What is it? You look so upset.”

Dani couldn’t speak. She headed to Kayla’s room and sank onto the bed.

Kayla knelt down. “Is it Jason? I thought that was just a casual summer thing. I really didn’t think you’d end up getting so hurt. Nathan should have decked him for what he did to you.”

“No. You were right about Jason,” Dani said. “And your brother is actually pretty amazing.” Despite every effort, her eyes welled up again.

“I knew it,” Kayla said softly. “You really like Nathan, don’t you? I
thought
there was something brewing between you two.”

Dani lay back onto the soft bed and closed her eyes. “I’m so tired of everything. I’m tired of myself and the way I’ve been acting all summer. You’ve been so nice to include me with your friends, and I love that you taught me how to do my hair, and wear the best clothes, and all of that. But I can’t keep up with you and Chelsea and Violet. Even my dad tried to make me over. Wait until you see the dress he picked out for me to wear at my party tomorrow night. It’s this crazy designer gown with sequins and taffeta all over it. I’m a jeans and
T-shirt
girl at heart. I’ve been trying to act the way you do and date cool guys, and all I’ve managed to do is get myself into a mess.” She rolled over to face Kayla.

“God, I’m such a wench!” Kayla moaned. “I’m so sorry if we made you feel like you had to be exactly like all of us. That’s the way
we
are, but it doesn’t have to be who you are. And we all have our quirks. Chelsea’s got pink hair, Violet lives in a recycled house, and I hurl myself in front of the paparazzi whenever I can. You just be you, okay?”

“Okay.” Dani smiled lightly.

“I’m going to miss you like crazy, but we’re your friends
,
and we’ll stay your friends even after you leave. And you’ll have Sam waiting for you at home,” Kayla said cautiously.

“I know Sam shouldn’t have done what she did, but in the end, I’m glad I did find out about my father. Even though my friendship with her is probably over since I haven’t answered any of her messages.” Dani wiped her eyes and looked sadly at Kayla. “And Nathan will never forgive me.”

Chapter 46

Dani’s plan to reunite Mark and Olivia worked. At least she had been able to repair one of her mistakes. Now Mark was spending most of the day at the hotel, supervising the party set-up.

She trudged up the stairs to her room, dreading the evening ahead.

“Mom!”

Leila sat on the bed, grinning. “There’s my baby girl!” She took her daughter in her arms.

“What are you doing here? Oh, I missed you!”

“Mark invited me and Alan out here to surprise you. He thought we might like to meet your friends and come to the party.” Leila took Dani’s hands in hers. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” Her mother was already dressed for the party. She wore an exquisite long silk dress.

“I’m so happy to see you, but I hope you’re prepared for how horrible the party is going to be. You cannot believe all the crazy things Mark has planned. Where’s Alan? I want to see him.”

“He’s with Mark. They’re getting along well. I never would have guessed, would you?”

“Dad isn’t so bad, Mom,” she said quietly.

“No.” Leila looked Dani over. “He seems to have taken pretty good care of you. Certainly the accommodations aren’t lacking. And you’re not as orange as I thought you’d be,” she said, laughing. “Actually, you look wonderful and very grown up.”

“Mom?”

“Yeah, honey?”

“I’m really going to miss him.” She dropped her head.

“I can tell. I see that you two made more of a connection than I thought you would. I’m happy about that, Dani. I really am.”

“Is it weird for you to see him after all this time?”

“I’m not going to lie. Yes. It’s tough. I spent years thinking that I did the right thing to not tell Mark about you, and now… I think it was a mistake.” Leila paused. “And it’s hard to see someone that you used to be in love with. You’ll know what I mean someday.”

Dani took her mother’s left hand and looked at her engagement ring. It was exactly right for Leila.

“Pretty great, huh?” Leila lifted Dani’s chin. “Is there something else going on?”

Dani shrugged.

“I know that look because I’ve felt the same way before. Is it that boy, Jason?”

“No, not Jason.”

“Oh. Someone else. Whoever he is, he really got to you, didn’t he?”

She nodded. “But it didn’t work out…I ruined it…I don’t know. I never gave him a chance until it was too late,” Dani said sadly. She tried to brighten. “Will you help me get ready?”

“Of course.”

“Don’t barf when you see my dress. Dad picked it out
,
and I’m going to look weird.” Dani pulled a garment bag from her closet. “He took it back to have them change something
,
and now it’s probably covered in feathers.”

“It can’t be that bad. Why don’t you go shower and try to relax, and then I’ll help you with your hair and makeup.”