“Don’t you know who she is?” I asked, frowning. “Victoria Bennett has been in dozens of movies. She was famous long before Spencer or me.”
The girl turned to Vicky, her cheeks pink. “I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize you, Miss Bennett.”
Vicky smiled stoically, though I saw how much the girl’s words hurt her. My heart broke for my sister. She was beautiful, talented, and hardworking, but I knew she struggled to believe it because she wasn’t a popular actress.
“Don’t worry,” Vicky said as she stepped away. “I’m nowhere near as famous as my little sister or her boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” the girl asked on a cry. “Spencer Hayes and Ally Bennett are a couple?”
Her friends broke free of Cal and approached, all of them squealing with delight.
“Is he really your boyfriend?” one girl asked me.
Vicky walked away, her chin held high.
“Pardon me,” I said to the girl as I broke from the group. “Vicky,” I called. “Wait.”
She finally stopped but didn’t turn to me.
“Vicky,” I said again, putting my hand on her arm.
“What do you want?” she asked. “To gloat over your success?”
I pulled back, frowning. “No. I wanted to apologize.”
“For what? Being better at everything? Don’t bother, Ally. It doesn’t become you to patronize me.”
“Patronize?” I pulled back farther, anger building. “I was feeling sorry for you.”
It was the wrong thing to say.
She reared back, her face turning red. “Don’t you dare feel sorry for me.” Her voice rose to a pitch that made everyone turn to look at us.
“Calm down, Vicky.” I lowered my voice, hoping she’d match my cadence. “There’s no need to make a scene.”
“Why not?” Her voice was still louder than it should be. “Are you afraid people will realize your life isn’t picture-perfect? What do you have to worry about? You have the fame, the beauty, the man, and the close-knit little family. Maybe it’s time the world realizes your life isn’t spotless, Ally Bennett. I know where Spencer has taken you, and it’s not only illegal, but also immoral.”
“It’s time to leave,” Spencer said to Vicky as he approached. “We shouldn’t air out our dirty laundry in public.”
“Of course we shouldn’t,” Vicky said. “Should we go to a speakeasy instead, Spencer, or a gambling ship? Would that be better? We can have a little more privacy there, can’t we? Just like you have with Ally.”
“Vicky.” Papa approached, his jaw tight. “That’s enough. You’re making a scene.”
Vicky let out a breath, then turned and walked away, wiping at her cheeks as she went.
“The viewing party is over,” Cal said to the group of young people. “We need to finish our work.”
“But I didn’t get my picture,” the girl said.
“Sorry. Perhaps another time.”
I turned to Spencer, an apology in my eyes.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I don’t have any siblings, but if I did, I’m sure we wouldn’t get along.”
Despite the seriousness of the moment, I couldn’t help but smile. “Why are you so sure?”
“Because I’m impossible to get along with, of course.” He motioned for me to follow. “Come on, we still have time to practice that kissing scene.”
