Marsha leaned in, the smile at her lips saying she sensed he had something that might save the day. She tipped her ear his way, and Easton leaned in further still.
“I’ve got an idea. But first, tell me this. Is there any way we can get ahold of her father?”
Chapter 20
It’s no big deal, Ivy. You’re just missing the preshow. The traffic will clear up in time for the first episode.
Ivy glanced at the sight before them; that same flatbed truck was still right in front. A green Volkswagen bus remained in the rear. Sure, she wasn’t happy about missing the preshow, or the idea of missing the entire live episode, mainly because her sisters were looking so forward to it. But that’s not where Ivy’s worry lie. Because her real concern, the much greater dilemma, was her relationship with Easton.
Her sisters were content for now; the three of them were admiring one another’s gowns, heels, and matching jewelry. She was glad they’d been enjoying the day. And heck, if worse came to worse and they didn’t make it to the studio in time for the show, perhaps one of them could try to pull up the live footage on their phone. They could watch it from the limo until they arrived.
She nodded. That might be possible.
Speaking of phones, Ivy mused, spotting something from her periphery. A quick glance at the ladies said she was right—they were each hovered over their phones suddenly. She watched as they exchanged worried glances before shifting their collective gaze to her.
Ivy’s heart skipped. “What?”
“Nothing,” Taya blurted, shoving her phone on the seat face down.
Joelle stared at her like a deer caught in the crosshairs. “Uh…”
“Joelle’s friend just sent her a link,” Jackie said, voice filled with dread. “The tabloids got their hands on the story.”
Her body was working faster than her brain, it seemed. Because while Ivy struggled to dissect what she’d said, her body was already reacting to the news with a racing pulse.
“Whatstory?” she asked.
“The one with you and Easton,” her sister explained. “They got it wrong, of course.”
“Tabloids are just mean,” Taya added. “I wouldn’t look at it.”
Ivy moved her gaze over the women, catching one sympathetic look after the next. She gulped, humiliation rising so high she could drown in it.
“It’s mean?” She wasn’t sure how her heart could hammer so wildly. Wasn’t it bleeding by now? It felt like it was. In fact, as the sharp and stinging pain swelled with each rhythmic pulse, it felt like it might give out altogether. Taya was definitely right; Ivy shouldn’t want to look at it, but she couldn’t avoid looking forever.
She extended her hand toward them, bracing herself for whatever she might see on that screen, and nodded toward Joelle. “Here, can I please see it?”
Suddenly, the distinct sound of a helicopter sounded overhead.
“Must be the station’s traffic watch,” Jackie guessed.
“Yeah,” Taya said.
Distraction was not going to work, Ivy would see to that. But then the sound of the chopper’s blades grew louder.
Joelle leaned to get a better look. “That is freakingloud.It sounds like it’s…” She gasped. “Right next to us!”
“What?” Taya leaned far over next. Ivy and Jackie did the same as the chopper’s rhythmic beat grew impossibly louder still, until it echoed throughout the cab.
Ivy covered her ears with her hands. The others did the same.
“What’s going on?” Joelle yelled over the noise.
“You’ve got me,” Ivy hollered. That’s when she spotted the chopper for herself. Coming right down to land…to land on the center of the massive flatbed in front of them!
“I wonder if someone’s hurt,” Taya guessed.
“More like introuble,” Jackie said. “That’s not life flight; that helicopter belongs to the cops.” And there it was, LA County Deputy printed along the side.
