Her tone wasn’t harsh, but it was blunt. Tired.
My entire body stilled as I tried to process not just her question but her presence. For days now, I had wondered about what this woman had against me. I’d fantasized about what I might say to her. About getting answers, finally. And now that I had the chance, it was time to face the truth.
“Actually, I’m not sorry at all.” I stepped forward. “I’m not sorry I came, I’m not sorry I tried so hard to do the right thing for so long. I was good in the movie. I know I was.”
While I spoke, Odetta eyed me carefully, like I was a sea creature she’d never encountered before.
“Who are you?” she asked.
I almost laughed, but then I realized it wasn’t a jab. Could she bethatdrunk?
“You don’t know?”
She took a sip of her whiskey and made a face as the liquid traveled down her throat.
“I don’t know anything.”
“I’m Lou,” I said, barely audible, like I wasn’t sure my name was worth speaking out loud. “I’m—you really don’t remember?”
“There aresomany things I don’t want to remember.”
I could walk away. I could spare myself the humiliation. I’d gone through enough already. Why ask for more? But in many ways, this already felt like the last night of my life. And that was before I knew howterribly it would end. By the time I stepped off this yacht, I would be a completely changed person. Forever.
But for now, I was still full of questions.
“I’m in your movie,” I said. “I was, anyway, before you cut me out.”
My tone had no heat, only resignation. She could pretend she didn’t remember, but that didn’t mean I had to let her get away with it.
“BeforeIcut you out.”
She nodded sadly and took another sip.
“Why’d you do it? Was it me? I know it happens. But why me? Why?”
This was my last chance to understand.
Odetta placed her empty glass on the counter and stared at it before focusing on me.
“Maybe it was you then? All these rumors? This nastiness?” She spat out the last word.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, mimicking me with a high-pitched voice. “You think that you can tear me down to lift yourself up.”
“No…”
“That because you’re young, you’re invincible. You have all that greatness to look forward to while I’m finished.”
“I don’t think that at all.”
“So you’re above all this, aren’t you? Let me guess, you don’t even read what’s written about you.”
“Nothingis written about me. There’s nothing to say.”
The rumor about my supposed romance with Dorian Fisher was old news already. And yes, my social media following had grown slightly. I’d been in numerous pictures at some of the parties I’d attended. But people only cared about my outfits. Lou the actor had faded into obscurity as fastas she’d been plucked out of it.
Odetta laughed. “Lucky you.”
