Priyal nodded. “I don’t even really need a side job anymore.”
It had taken Dimple far longer in her career to be able to pay her bills through acting alone. She couldn’t help feeling a little envious.
“But I can stay longer!” Priyal insisted suddenly. “Now that your career is taking off, you need my help more than ever.”
Dimple shook her head. “That is completely unnecessary. I assure you, I can manage.”
“But—”
“I’m more upset I didn’t get to celebrate the news with you,” Dimple said, cutting her off. “We’ll just have to do that after the premiere.”
Priyal shook her head rapidly. “No, this is your moment.”
“I’m not so emotionally stunted that I don’t know how to share.”
That drew a laugh from the girl. She looked up at Dimple, something not too far off from her usual grin back in place.
“I’m so lucky I met you,” Priyal said wistfully. “You’re the first friend I ever made in LA, you know that?”
“Me too,” Dimple answered without thinking.
“You don’t have to lie, Dimple,” Priyal said lightly.
But Dimple had been telling the truth. The embarrassing, unfortunate truth. In all her years in Hollywood and for all her successes, Priyal had been the closest thing to a friend she’d ever had. Now Dimple would be losing her. But before she could embarrass herself any further by explaining just that, Priyal clapped her hands and stood.
“Okay, enough, we need to get dressed. The red carpet is waiting.”
—
Dimple’s bangles clinkedas she posed for reporters. It was costume jewelry, but Dimple’s mother had left to her a set of solid gold bangles that looked nearly identical. When she’d been a kid, she’d dreamed about finally turning eighteen years old, tugging them onto her wrists, and walking right out the door. That day never came, of course. Her aunt and uncle had long since pawned them to pay offone debt or another. It didn’t matter. By that point, Dimple had already given up on expecting anything from anyone. She’d bought these bangles with her own money, and one day she would buy a set made of real gold, just like her mother’s. And she’d have nobody to thank but her own hard work.
Jerome Bardoux was here as well, but he refused to pose for photographs, choosing instead to head straight inside the theater. Priyal stood off to the side, shooting Dimple a thumbs-up every time she looked her way. Every once in a while, Dimple’s attention would snag on Saffi, who stood beside Priyal, almost hidden in a corner, dressed in her usual black suit. For once, she wasn’t ludicrously overdressed.
“You’re already trending,” Priyal whispered as Dimple made her way back to them. Dimple’s heart soared. She had a good feeling about the night.
The three of them were directed inside a beautiful theater. Soft lighting paved the way toward their seats. It was mostly empty as of now, occupied only by those who had either worked on or acted inInsomnia.Dimple found where some of her co-stars were seated and was about to join them when she realized who was positioned beside her.
Shyla Patel.
Dimple froze. Shyla’s nose sat just as regally on her face as before and her black eye had completely healed by now, but every time Dimple blinked, she saw twin rivers of blood gushing down her face.
“Dimple—hey! It’s been forever!” Shyla beamed. “Are you getting my texts?”
“What texts?” Dimple replied, voice strained.
“Oh, never mind, then,” she said. “Anyway, I have so much to tell you!”
It took every ounce of Dimple’s effort to keep her voice from shaking. “You seem well.”
“Uh—look who’s talking! Your dress is incredible—Salomé, right?” Dimple barely had the time to nod before Shyla barreled on. “This is your first film festival too, isn’t it? What do you think so far?”
“It’s very overwhelming.” She felt nauseous, her dress constricting as her breaths grew shorter.
Dimple had to make a decision. Priyal and Saffi were standing politely beside her as she spoke, but the three of them stood out for not taking their seats. Where Saffi seemed content to watch her flounder, Priyal came to her rescue.
“Sorry, my feet are killing me,” she said, flopping into the seat beside Shyla.
Shyla laughed good-naturedly. “Tell me about it.”
