Chapter Eleven
Libra
“Well?”Bella asks me the second I sit in the seat next to her.
“Well, what?”I know she’s asking me about my date.I shrug.“It was fine.”
“Fine?”She leans closer.“Just—fine?”
“Yeah.We met at Norma’s.Ate dinner and apple pie and I came here.”Here is the high-school auditorium where everyone has been invited to watch the first episode ofReturn to Zodiac Hills.Not everyone in town came to this, which is good because there’s not enough room, but someone, probably Kitty, felt it would be a good idea to give people the opportunity to view it together.Plus, I knew my dad wouldn’t be watching, and he’d probably have a coronary if he heard it playing from my old laptop.
The room goes quiet, and we all look up to see Kitty walk across the stage, but Bella’s got one more thing to say: “You’re telling me everything as soon as this stupid show is over.”
Patting her leg, I nod and smile.“Sure.”
“Hear ye, hear ye,” Kitty says while clapping her hands.I bet she wishes she had her hammer.“Tonight, we gather here….”
What is this?A wedding?
“To watch the inaugural episode ofReturn to Zodiac Hills.”She smiles.“Let’s hope it’s a smashing success.”She claps again, which causes many in the room to clap right along with her.
We watch Kitty walk to the right, the lights dim, and the screen comes to life.“This is sort of cool,” I say to no one.
“If you like train wrecks,” Bella mutters.
Leaning to my right, I answer that statement with “I’m a train wreck.And you like me.”
“True.”She snickers.
The room is buzzingafter the show ends.Bella and I stand and step out into the exit line.We haven’t spoken since the show began.I guess we’re waiting until we get outside.It could also be because we want to listen to everyone else.
“That was very good.”That comment was from Bill Schumacher.“I fell head over heels for that show.”
Bella snickers at his reference to shoes and I merely smile.I’ve got to give Bill props for always having a foot cliché at the ready.
“What did you ladies think?”
What did I think?The truth is, I thought it was good.And yes, I know what it’s going to mean for us.If the show’s a hit, we’re going to be overtaken with crazies who come here looking for love.
“It’s weird…,” Bella starts to say.
“What’s weird?”
“How there are characters in the show that remind me of people here.”She points down.“In town.”
I hadn’t noticed.
“Like the woman who owns the bookstore.That was Kitty for sure.”
“You think?”
“And Mona was there.”
“Ooh, she was the evil school principal.”
“Yes.”Bella practically hisses.
Bill’s listening intently to what Bella’s saying.“If that’s your theory, that means the gorgeous baker in the show was you.”I swear to you, Bill blushes as soon as the words leave his mouth.
