Maia pouted. “Who stole your mintOreos?”
April laughed. “Sorry. Aaron wants clips, and I’m about ready to tell him to stickit.”
“Send him a link to the show’swebsite.”
April gasped. Her hand splayed across her chest. “You want me to shirk myduties?”
“I want you to have fun tonight. You work toohard.”
April’s smile was layered with her daily to-do list. “It will all be worth it when this tour isover.”
Maia turned to look out the window. “I hope so.” The city lights played on the darkened windows. The people on the sidewalks were dressed in everything from rags to designer dresses and fake furs. A woman with a turban and loose-fitting white pants strutted the sidewalk in an ankle-length, silver fox coat. Liquid silver hung from her ears and draped across her body in long strands. Okay, maybe that fur wasreal.
The car slowed and April reached for the door handle. Maia could barely make out the blue jacket of a footman, the brass buttons dull through the dark glass. There were a few photographers waiting behind a velvet rope, their cameras dangling from thick straps. April stepped out first and scanned the area. She nodded to the footman and walkedforward.
Maia hung on to the slit as she swung both legs out, searching for the pavement with her Gianvito Rossi Leather Portofino heels. The footman offered his white-gloved hand and she used it to pull herself to her feet. Cameras snapped and her name floated from lip to lip. She stepped forward and was rushed from theside.
Ice-cold liquid hit her in the face and cascaded down her neck and chest. She gasped and was hit with a second deluge. Shocked, she swiped the liquid from her face. The juice was so cold that it clung to her eyelashes in frozen clumps, making it difficult for her tosee.
“You’re not good enough for him!” screamed the angry man. “Stayaway!”
Maia held her arms in front of her face for protection. Her cheeks were cold and she could hardly breathe for the cold on herchest.
“In the car!” screamed April. She shoved Maia backward, and the two of them landed on the limo floor, their limbs tangled. “Go! Go!” April shouted at the driver. The car lurched forward and the door slammedshut.
Maia struggled to move out from under April. But her dress was caught in the door. The small train hadn’t made it all the wayinside.
April rolled off of her and cursed. “Yourleg?”
Maia took inventory. “It hurts like the devil, but I think the stitches held. Bless the plastic surgeon.” She sat up. Her skin was warming and chunks of red and blue ice fell on the carpet when she moved. “Whatisthis?”
“Slushie.” April flicked a chunk off Maia’s shoulder. “Berry blue and raspberry red, if I remember my flavors correctly. Youokay?”
Maia nodded. “I think so.” She shook out her arms, spraying the limo floor with slush. “What the heck was that?” She laughed. “I can’t believe that justhappened.”
April wasn’t laughing. “What did heyell?”
Maia’s laughter died as her attacker’s words came back full force. She swallowed the lump of fear in her throat. “‘You’re not good enough forhim.’”
“Who? London! You think this has to do withLondon?”
Maia considered the question. “Or Franz. No one knows I know London. We’ve been on theDL.”
“It can’t be Franz. You guys don’t go out unless it’s official. No one in their right mind would think you weretogether.”
“Does this look like someone in their right mind?” Maia held up her red-and-blue-and—in some places where the flavors mixed—purple-stainedarms.
“I guess not.” April’s phone rang. She checked the screen. “It’sAaron.”
“That’s just great. You’d betteranswer.”
April accepted the call. “Aaron, there’s a little situationhere.”
“Iheard.”
“How did you hear about it so quickly?” April demanded. “We aren’t even dried offyet.”
“The photographers caught the whole incident. They went live. I’m watching them haul the guyoff.”
