J

"I must have been good today to come home to such a sight," Lisa said when she found me reading on our bed, the sound of her approval resonating around her lascivious grin. She was standing in the doorway, arms folded across her chest, smirking like the Cheshire cat.

It was late, almost ten o'clock at night, and I had anticipated her being wiped out, but I was so damn relieved to see her smile return.

Guess she liked my new cream-colored lace camisole top and matching panties more. It was as far as I had gotten dressed after my shower and exhaustive day keeping up with Anna and her credit cards. I smiled at her, feeling that thrill she always manages to incite in me with nothing more than a look.

I hadn't seen her since she left with Mike that morning and I was glad to see she was in a fairly good mood, considering the heaviness of her day. Hopefully her good mood would stay, helping to cushion the talk yet to come. I'd been feeling sick about it all day, but after my phone call with Hyunji I couldn't put it off any longer.

My sadness from knowing I'd have to go home soon had me stuck to the bed while my internal giddiness from not seeing Lisa all day had me desiring to jump up and latch my legs around her hips.

Lisa sauntered over; her finger traced over the fine spaghetti strap of my top and down the valley of my spine, sending quivers right into my groin. A soft, throaty growl rolled up her throat. I licked her fingertip when she seductively drifted it over my lip.

"I figure if I'm going to spend your money, I might as well get things you'll appreciate."

She flashed her million-dollar smile, the one that makes my knees weak.

Damn, I'll miss this every day.

Like a big cat mounting its mate, she crawled onto the bed and over the top of me, loving my bare shoulder with her mouth. "Oh, I appreciate. Very. Very. Much."

Her thighs surrounded the outside of mine, dipping her hips to prove her appreciation by letting me feel her denim-clad erection in the cleft of my rear.

I twisted beneath her, flipping over to my back. Her tongue swirled with mine, reminding me just how much I missed her today.

"You are so fucking beautiful," she breathed out on my lips, lowering her body to rest next to me. "I missed you today."

I smiled, thrilled to know she felt the same way. I brushed her hair from her eyes when she rested her head on my chest.

It had been three days since the methamphetamines meltdown and everyone's lawyer and manager was in town to hold hands and lord over the situation. "I heard you did an excellent job this morning," I said, kissing her forehead.

She sighed. "You're banned from hanging around Anna."

I pushed back a little to see her face. "Why? She's the one who gave me the nod of approval on this outfit."

Lisa held up one finger. "I retract the ban." She gave me a reassuring smirk. "I figured she'd fill you in."

She mumbled something about hens and gossip. If she only knew the half of it. After spending so much time with her, I had dirt on half of Hollywood.

"Anna was very impressed with the way you handled yourself. You still okay with the decision?"

Her shoulder rose and fell. "Don't have much choice, do I? She cried again when I said she's lucky she didn't get fired today. Jisoo better keep her nose clean this time. She gets caught using again and that's it."

Her eyes locked on mine. "I'm almost hoping she messes up. I told Jonathan you'd be a good replacement."

Surprise and some annoyance jolted into my chest. "I'm not an actress, Lisa. You shouldn't have done that."

She propped her head up. "Why? What are you afraid of?"

Oh, not much. The media making a huge production out of my transition? False accusations of me using you to get ahead? Incorrect theories that this is some sort of publicity stunt? Having your career negatively impacted because of it?

"It's a bad idea."

She frowned at me. "You're a natural, you know."

The thought made me shiver, knowing her view was biased. "If I'm going to ever go that route I want to earn it, not have it handed to me."

Lisa's lips twisted. "You're the only person who would see it that way."

Somehow I highly doubted that. "The gossip magazines would have a field day, Lisa. You know it as well as I do. You don't need that looming around your public persona. It will be bad enough when things are said about my small cameo."

"Could be your debut."

I rolled my eyes.

"What?" she sniggered, dropping her arm onto my paper pile. She picked up a few of the pages I was reading and glanced at them. I saw her eyes turn skeptically quizzical. "What's all this?" she scrutinized the papers.

"Anna gave me some documents to look at; financials and stuff."

She flipped through several of the sheets, becoming more and more intrigued as she panned through.

"This is for Slipknot. Why the hell do you have . . .? Are you . . . are you supposed to have this stuff? This is the agreement with their production company, Light Reel Pictures."

She toggled from gaping at the pages in hand to gaping at me, as if I'd committed a horrendous crime.

"Production agreements, Light Reel's contract . . . Holy shit, Jennie."

I took some of the pages from her hand, trying to lessen the breach, knowing that even she wasn't privy to some of the agreements made to get Slipknot filmed. "She gave them to me in confidence. We've been talking a lot and I had questions. I think she's made a pet project out of me."

"Don't let anyone know you have these," she advised, admonishing my risky behavior.

I snatched the last few pages from her hand, incensed that she'd think I was that careless. I made a nice, neat pile, forgoing the last page I studied for the betterment of recouping the evidence. "I know. Don't you tell anyone I have them, either."

Her head tilted. "Why do you have all of that?"

I looked over at her. "Someone's got to run our production company."

Hoping to sidetrack her reproach, I pulled from the bottom of my pile the log home architectural design book she had asked me to get. "Here. I got this for you. Build me a house, oh Captain, my Captain."

Shiny object diversion. "Oh cool." She flopped over onto her belly, thumbing through it. "Did you see any designs you like?"

I shook my head. "I like them all."

A faint noise caught my attention. "Is Mike downstairs?"

"No."

Her voice was tinged with a hint of sadness, as if she missed her friend.

"Lisa, I really don't mind if he hangs out here with us. He's not just your head of security anymore. Why don't you call him and tell him to come over. I'll make some of those quesadillas you guys love so much."

Lisa stalled, appearing apprehensive. "He's ah . . . got other plans tonight."

"What's he up to?"

Lisa ignored me to go take a shower. I had almost fallen asleep when I felt Lisa shift off the bed and then something pointy tickle my butt cheek. "What are you doing?"

"Never mind," she instructed, palming my thigh in her hand. "Just go back to doing what you were doing and don't worry about it."

I looked over my shoulder. "That's a freaking permanent marker, Lisa!"

"It will wash off . . . eventually. Hold still."

"Honey, please don't draw on my ass."

"Shush." She pushed the edge of my underwear out of her way. "This is my ass. Mine. Property of," she said matter-of-factly.

I groaned as she palmed my rear, her rogue finger brushing oh so cleverly between the juncture of my thighs, twitching, tickling. She knew exactly what she was doing to me.

"So," I breathed out, very aware of my bottom, "does that mean I own your ass, too?"

"Damn straight," she murmured. "Own. Rule. My body is yours. Feeling in the mood to play with it? I'll let you."

I felt the excitement that her words stirred in me. "Let me? I didn't know I needed permission to play with my toys. I thought that was the benefit of being an only child. Never having to share."

Lisa frowned, returning to her drawing. "Nick used to enjoy breaking my toys. Whenever he was pissed at me he'd snap my shit into pieces."

The thought of Nick being nasty to Lisa saddened me. I frowned, wishing I could take away those bad memories.

She was so engrossed, I peered over my shoulder. "Are you having fun? Did I get an official Lisa Manoban autograph?"

Lisa chuckled. "What are your feelings about getting matching tattoos?"

Several thoughts flashed at once, starting with "pain" and "needles" and then quickly followed by the question of whether she was seriously considering permanently inking my right ass cheek with her name.

The next thoughts flooded in like a film in fast-forward—all swirling around the several tattoos that adorned Mingyu's luscious body; the tribal art that wrapped around Mingyu's chiseled left hip like a beacon to Wonderland.

I had to clear my throat. "I've considered a tattoo once. Never went through with it, though. Why? Are you thinking of other ways to mark your property?"

She shrugged, downplaying it, but I could tell that she was seriously considering it. "Just thought it might be cool. I've been thinking about getting one for a long time. Thought maybe we'd have the same symbol or something."

I tried to see what she was drawing, but it only looked like a box with scribbling next to it.

"What is that?"

"I'm making an airport. This is the terminal and this here is the landing strip. Stop moving! My jumbo jet needs to land."

I quickly rolled over onto my side.

"Hey! Oh, what—you don't care if hundreds of passengers plummet to their death in the ocean? You're so mean." Her once-determined face now looked completely dejected. She was such a good actor.

I smiled at her, snatched the black marker from her hand, and climbed onto her. "Why? Is your jet packed with navy seamen? Let me draw on your ass. I want to carve my initials on my property."

Even though she had been up since five thirty this morning, she moved with lightning-quick speed to undo her towel and roll onto her belly, so willing to let me draw on her body.

"Property . . . of . . . Jennie . . . Kim." I wrote in script letters on her tight, bare bottom. I drew a little heart at the end to finish it off.

Lisa glanced over her shoulder. "You done?"

"Yep."

She grabbed the marker out of my hand and tossed it in the general direction of the nightstand.

"Come here," she said, slipping a hand behind my head to pull me down to her mouth. She tasted deliciously minty. The fragrances of her body wash and shampoo wove me into a familiar cocoon of favorite scents. Gently, she rolled me over onto my back. Her fingers wove and tensed into my hair, holding my head in her hand, silently telling me she'd never let me go.

For me, kissing Lisa Manoban was like drinking instant passion. Arousal tore through my body, awakening the hunger for her touch that always lies just below my surface.

She kissed my cheek, that tender spot under my jaw, down to the nape of my neck. Her hand slipped over my stomach, brushing fingertips over my ribs, working my camisole top up higher to expose my skin.

Her lips skated over the lace, finding my raised nipple with a gentle bite of her teeth.

My top was unceremoniously tossed to the floor. I threaded my fingers into her damp hair as she tongued and sucked my breast. Her hand slid under my panties; she groaned once when she realized I had shaved myself bare and then a second time, louder, when she felt how slick I was for her. "Fuck, baby," she breathed out softly, reverently, slipping her tongue back into my mouth.

Slowly she climbed on top of me, using her knees to nudge my thighs farther apart. Kneeling up, she reached for my panties, taking them down painstakingly slow, as if she were savoring the view.

I raised my legs, feeling the silk pass over my ankles. Lisa took my calf in hand, placing my leg back to where it rested on the other side of her leg.

"Let me see." She whispered her request, and I parted my legs for her. She sucked in a sharp breath. I could see the heat rising in her cheeks, tinting her with a glorious flush.

Her fingers drifted over my bare flesh. "God, you're beautiful," she breathed out. I felt my own breath hitch as she gazed at me with such raw and unfettered adoration.

I ran my hand down her muscular chest, over the ripples of her defined abs, mesmerized by her amazing body as she worshipped mine.

"I love you," I said, holding her gaze. Her head swayed and she lowered herself onto her forearms to kiss me.

"I love you more," she vowed into my mouth.

Lisa kissed her way down my body, licking the smooth skin of my stomach just below my belly button, pressing my thighs wide open. I gazed down at her brown eyes, so eager to watch my reaction. I watched her eyes close as she drifted into the fierce direction of pleasuring me. Her free hand pressed up over my ribs, then pinched and pulled my nipple.

"Oh, oh God . . ." I think I just said that out loud. Didn't take her long to send me flying over the edge.

She wiped her chin off on the back of her hand and crawled like a hungry animal up the bed.

Before I knew it I was on top of her, feeling my body adjust around each glorious inch as I slipped down to fully take her in.

"Oh, Jen," she moaned, pulling me tight to her chest, her forearm and hand holding my body to her while her other hand guided my rear. Our kisses turned to open-mouth pants, nose brushing nose, lips resting on lips for leverage. Her long fingers threaded into my hair. "You feel so good," she breathed, gazing directly into my eyes, before locking her mouth back on mine.

Lisa's arm wrapped under my right thigh, spreading me wider across her body. Her hips thrust into me so fast it took my breath away. My wetness spurred her on even more.

"Ah yeah, that's it. Mmm," she purred, and rocked me harder. Her strong hands cupped around my ass and she began thrusting with renewed vigor. I was starting to see stars and not just of the celebrity kind.

With a quick roll and swoop, she landed me on my back, slinking down my body so her tongue could slip fervently back and forth once again. Gently, but with deliberate effort, she bit into my flesh, a little nibble here, a little there, into the interior of my thigh, adding pain that only heightened my pleasure. Her fingers curled inside me, overloading me with powerful sensations while she flicked her wicked tongue.

I gasped when she entered me again. She wove her left hand into mine, pausing to kiss my knuckles.

"Only yours," she uttered on my lips, then raised my arm above my head, sinking herself deeper with each twist. I felt the incredible happiness from her tender gesture fill my heart and I surrendered myself completely to her will.

She rolled me on the bed like a hungry croc wearing down its prey, flipping me over and pleasuring me in ways that should be illegal.

I could feel it coming, that warm rush of orgasmic bliss. She was so deep; her fingers strummed my flesh perfectly. I couldn't hold on any longer; my body ached for a release. I paused several times to breathe, scrunching my eyes from the sensations coursing through me. I crashed my face into the bedsheets and let the all-consuming orgasm have me.

After we cleaned up, we nestled together back in bed. Lisa's chest pressed to my back, her strong, warm embrace holding me. I ran my fingertips over the tendons in her hand, dreading the moment when I'd be forced to sleep without her. I kissed her arm, appreciating this moment, thankful that we have this togetherness, right here, right now. I felt the steadiness of her warm breath on my shoulder, as I lay there listening to the sounds of her falling asleep.

Discussing when I'd go back home would have to wait another day.

It felt nice to sleep in since Lisa's day wouldn't start until almost 10 A.M. While we enjoyed a leisurely morning, I packed my copies of the production agreements and shooting schedules into my newly acquired messenger bag. All of my necessities to keep very occupied were carefully stowed inside.

Lisa's set assistant, Paula, was full of energy and very eager to please when we arrived, fetching coffee for both of us. Apparently Mike got special treatment; she had a chocolate-covered éclair stashed just for him. Even Lisa didn't get an éclair.

I reviewed the shooting schedule, noting Lisa's times and the scenes planned for the day, then decided to listen to the messages on the pub's line.

Hearing Mingyu say my name, twice, was unnerving, as if some cruel joke were being played on my memory, twisting my hatred into longing. Both times she requested I call him, not wanting to tell me the true reason for his calls, only saying it was urgent. The second message had more information. Though still vague, it contained the one word that would get me to call him back—Melanie.

"The only thing he said was that Mel's real sick," I said to Hyunji. She was getting ready to open the pub and interview two people for bartender/waitress positions when I called. "He didn't say with what. Just that there might not be enough time."

"Shit. I'll try calling her mom. I'm surprised she didn't call me if she was back in town," Hyunji said, sounding distracted.

"When do you go to the lawyer?"

"Tuesday, one o'clock. You going to be back by then?"

"Yeah, I'll make sure of it."

I heard her sigh into the phone. "Good. Tammy's getting really grumpy. I think she's mad that we're not helping with their wedding but I'm not exactly sure what we're supposed to be doing. I talked to her mom about the bridal shower and we figured we could either use the bar or go to a place like Jake's On The Pier."

"I'm coming home soon. I'll call you when I have my flight info." I'd have to tell Lisa tonight.

We were driven back to our condo by one of the set drivers, with Mike, as always, in the front seat. I presumed he'd be coming in with us to do his quick security sweep, so I was surprised when he hurried us along and left the minute the lights in our condo were on.

"That was weird. So where is he off to in such a hurry?"

Lisa shrugged. "I don't know."

I could tell she was keeping something from me. I smiled at her bad fib while watching her change into a pair of sweats. "Sure you do. He's been disappearing a lot. Why won't you tell me?"

Lisa sighed and then gave in. "Because you'll probably get pissed and I will never lie to you, so . . ."

Shit. After that comment, it's too late for her to hold back now. I traded jeans for my favorite yoga pants. "Who is she?"

"Who is who?"

Yeah, now's not the time to play ignorant, missy.

She huffed. "Paula, my set assistant."

I pictured her clearly. My height—five-sixish. Thin. Cute and spunky with short jet-black hair cut blunt at her chin. An inch-wide electric blue streak painted in her hair. Black framed glasses that gave her that naughty librarian look. "This isn't their first date, is it?"

Lisa gave me a look that said she wasn't denying it.

"Wonderful. Hyunji's going to be devastated."

Lisa groaned as I walked out of our bedroom. "He's just been taking her out to dinner, Jen."

"For all you know. And he's also been calling Hyunji every day, filling her with hope." I felt my disappointment come on like a burn. "I knew it. And I warned him, too."

I heard Lisa curse as she followed me down the stairs. "Look, he likes Hyunji a lot. Trust me. But that isn't happening for him right now, so what is he supposed to do? Quit living?"

I couldn't stop my swell of anger, knowing how torn-up Hyunji was just from all the crap Gary was putting her through. "I just wish he'd kept his tongue out of my best friend's mouth. This is going to tear her heart out for sure."

Lisa followed me into the kitchen. "So he kissed her. It's not like he pledged his undying love to her."

"I get that, Lisa. That's not the point. He said he wanted to be updated on what's going on in her life. He not only said that to her, he said it to me in private. You don't make that step and then date your boss's set assistant. You just don't. He could have kept his distance but he made a choice knowing she was extremely vulnerable at the time. And the daily phone calls? You can't do that kind of stuff to girls. She let him in even though she had brick walls up and now this is going to mess with her head even more."

Lisa put her long legs up on the couch, tangling them with mine. "I get it. Why do you think it took me weeks before I kissed you? I could have had my lips all over yours the very first day I met you, but I didn't."

Yeah right. "No you couldn't have."

Her confident look said otherwise. "I could have and you know it. But I didn't want to rush into anything. Not with you. Kissing complicates things. I took it slow because I wanted you to know me, really know me, before we got physical. So I understand that them kissing has made Hyunji have feelings beyond friendship."

I climbed over her legs and curled up on her chest. "I know you."

Lisa shifted, getting us comfortable. she kissed my forehead. "I know."

My thoughts swirled. "Apparently those feelings beyond friendship aren't strong enough for Mike to abstain since he's on a date with another woman."

Lisa groaned. "You're blowing this out of proportion. You don't know that."

I nuzzled into her chest and closed my eyes. "Well, what I do know is that as long as he's picking dates from the production crew, I want him to stay far away from my best friend."

Lisa rested a hand on my rear. "Don't you think it's up to them to decide that?"

"No," I growled on her skin. "I'm deciding for her because I won't let her heart get broken by another idiot. Mike had his chance and he blew it. I hope he and Paula are happy together."

That got me a swat on the rear, followed by a squeeze. "Now you're just being grumpy."

I ran my fingertips over the defined dip in her chest. "Disappointed is more like it. After what Hyunji's been telling me that he's been whispering in her ear when they talk, I thought he considered her to be something special. But apparently she must have misunderstood."

She lifted my chin up and glared at me.

"Don't look at me like that," I said. "He's the one out on a date with someone else. I'm serious. I will not allow anyone to hurt her again. Gary never treated her right, which leads me to something else we need do discuss."

She tipped up an eyebrow.

"My best friend needs me to come home."

--

I began missing Lisa terribly the moment my airplane taxied down the runway. It had been almost a month since I'd been home, but everything seemed to right itself the moment I saw my makeshift family waiting for me in the airport. God, how I missed my friends. I didn't realize how much until I saw their faces light up.

Fred snatched me up first, lifting me off the ground. "'Bout time you got your ass back home. Missed ya, kid."

I hugged and kissed Tammy and then wrapped my arms around Hyunji's neck. It wasn't until we piled into Tammy's Camry that I sensed some tension between her and Hyunji. Hyunji had asked her a question but Tammy ignored her, which prompted Hyunji to appear disheartened.

Walking up the steps to my apartment felt familiar but somewhat strange, since I hadn't been there for a few weeks. Tammy pulled some aluminum baking pans out of the pub kitchen before following us up the steps.

"I thought you'd be hungry so I made my fried chicken that you love so much," Tammy announced. I turned and hugged her. God I loved them all so much.

I spotted a few boxes in my living room and presumed they were Hyunji's. "Were you able to get some of your stuff from the house?"

Hyunji shook her head. "No. Gary won't let me in the house." She pointed at two black garbage bags. "I went over there the other day and found those sitting on the side porch. It's mostly winter clothes and stuff I don't wear."

I growled, aggravated enough for the both of us. "What do you mean he won't let you in the house? Did he lock you out?"

Hyunji shrugged. It was obvious that all this stress was taking its toll on her. "It will get straightened out."

I was surprised she didn't just kick the door in. "I called the bank and verified that they change the routing for your automatic deposit to your new account. Did you get your paycheck?"

She nodded.

"What about the check from the fifteenth?"

Hyunji massaged her temples. "Went into our joint account. I pulled two hundred out at the ATM and he called me bitching about owing him money for bills. I guess the money is his until the lawyers sort it out."

I quickly ran some numbers in my head. "So basically you have the shirt on your back, your winter clothing in a few garbage bags, and five hundred bucks."

Hyunji's face crinkled and big, fat tears pooled in her eyes.

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. I'd never seen her this defeated—ever. "Don't worry. We will figure this out. I'll see if the bank can reverse the last deposit. And you're staying here. No ifs, ands, or buts about that. We'll get the spare room cleaned out and there's storage in the basement."

Hyunji leaned her head on my shoulder. Thankfully, she had an appointment to see her lawyer.

No matter what, I'd make sure she'd get her smile back.

It took exactly one week for the first indiscretion to hit the front cover of the gossip magazines. To say Hyunji was livid was putting it mildly. Her initial reaction of "What the fuck?" near the cash register in our local Whole Foods market had a few heads turning. When she continued with "that son of a" and a slew of other breathy expletives strung together into one long, creatively formed curse word, people started to gawk.

Hyunji glared at me. "You know about this?"

Fuck.

She slapped the paper down on the rubber conveyor belt. "Jen?"

I gave her my most innocent, compassionate look, knowing I had broken the best friend code.

"You want to explain this to me? Why I'm looking at this?"

No, not really. I continued to empty the cart, stalling for an answer. "I don't know. All I know is they went out to eat together after Lisa wrapped for the day."

She stared at me, incredulously. "And you didn't think it was important to tell me?"

I knew she was mad at me or at the very least, disappointed. Hell, if the situation were reversed, I'd be angry, too. And hurt. "And tell you what, sweetie? That he had dinner with another person?"

She glared at the cover. Big, bold letters announced that Lisa's newfound tryst had been stolen out from under her by none other than her bodyguard. Supposedly this is why I left Vancouver. "I can't believe I fell for this. Again! Unbelievable. Son of a . . . Who is she?"

"Lisa's set assistant."

"Whore."

I winced at her anger, hating that I knew he was dating someone else. But I hated lying to her even more. "It was dinner. A bunch of people went out." Acid burned in my stomach. All that time I trusted Mike. I trusted him to be one of the good guys. I couldn't break her heart all over again, telling her the truth. I wanted to punch the front cover and tear it to shreds. "Apparently Lisa's cheating, too." I handed it back to her.

Hyunji smashed the magazine back on the end cap, much to the obvious displeasure of the cashier.

"Talked to him last night," she said ruefully.

"And?"

She shrugged. "He failed to mention he was a lying scumbag who's dating Lisa's assistant." Hyunji opened up her purse. "I cannot believe I fell for his sweet bullshit. God, I'm so damn gullible."

I set the bags of apples and grapes on the belt next. "Who are you calling?"

"Cheating bastard bodyguard. Going to tell him he can go fuck himself."

I snatched her phone right out of her hand. "You don't want to do that."

"Why? Give me that back."

"No. It was dinner. Mike's been with Lisa every night since. They are attached at the hip. And you just filed for a divorce an hour ago so you're not in a good place right now to make that call."

Hyunji grabbed another magazine. "Look at this. According to this one you're pumping Lisa full of drugs."

"What?" I snatched it from her hand, feeling the blood rush from my head from seeing another outlandish headline.

Another celebrity tragedy in the making? Seaside's Lisa Manoban fighting addiction to prescription drugs. Seems Lisa Manoban is set to follow in the footsteps of numerous celebrities who have fallen prey to the lures of prescription drugs. CV has learned that Lisa has been taking several different medications to combat depression. "The pressure is getting to her," says one insider. Sources also say that Lisa's new fiancée, barkeep Jennie Kim, isn't helping. "She openly enables her, often encouraging her to drug up before public appearances. Everyone can see it. If she doesn't get help soon, this could turn tragic."

"What the hell?" I felt my fury roll in like a tsunami.

Hyunji grabbed the pages, reading the small article.

I grabbed my cell and started a text to Lisa. "Oh my God. This is bad. Bad, bad, bad."

"Call me asap"

My cell chimed. I opened Lisa's text.

"working what up?"

I texted back.

"CV mag says I'm pushing drugs on you and Hyunji is not happy about cover of Starr"

"Drugs? cover? wtf"

"Mike and Paula"

"call me now"

This was not a conversation to have while paying for groceries.

"2 minutes?"

"ok-love you"

"Love you more"

I shoved my phone back in my pocket.

"Lisa freaking Manoban," Hyunji groaned. "She's a megastar. You'd think she'd have better friends."

The fact that she was lamenting over Mike and not about filing for a divorce from Gary was, I thought, a good thing.

"All I know is that they went to dinner. I'd talk to him before you get further bent out of shape. You of all people should know that those mags are nothing but poison."

She grabbed the magazine again and opened it up to the pictures inside. "His hand is on her back, Jen. He told me he was bored. That lying sack of shit. All the same; every one of them. Cheaters, liars, scum-fucking assholes."

When we got to the car, Hyunji flopped her little body into the passenger seat. "Are you ever going to give me my phone back?"

I snapped my seat belt on. "You going to refrain from jumping to conclusions and making a call you might regret?"

She held out her hand. "I promise I won't call him."

I dug it out of my purse just as Lisa called on mine.

"What's this message about drugs?" I could tell she was keeping her tone low.

"CV magazine has a write-up that you're taking antidepressants, hon. How would they find that out?"

"Whatever. Just about every person I know takes them."

"No, not 'whatever.' It said that an insider told them I force you to drug up before public appearances. What the hell, Lisa?"

"They printed that?"

"Yes. There are only a select few that know you take medicine for anxiety. Your parents don't even know. This is not public knowledge." I glanced over at Hyunji, knowing she knew about Lisa's medical condition.

Lisa cursed, loud and clear. "I can't deal with this now. Call Trish. Get her on it."

"Will do. I'll call you later."

Hyunji gave me an odd look when I turned left instead of right. "Where are we going?"

"I need to take care of this bank thing while we're over here. I got another call about late fees for my father's safe-deposit box."

Twenty minutes later I paid the fees to a box for which I didn't have a key.

"A hundred and eighty bucks to drill a lock out? Fred would do that for free," Hyunji said as we walked out of the bank.

I unlocked the car doors. "Guess I know what I'm doing today."

I set my purse and the copy of the bank bill down on the kitchen table when we returned to the apartment.

"The woman at the bank didn't even say what kind of key to look for," Hyunji said, going through the junk drawer in the kitchen.

I put the rest of our groceries away. "It wouldn't be in there."

I pulled out the top drawer of the desk in the third bedroom.

"Here, go through all these files and I'll look through these. Open envelopes, everything."

She started paging through the stacks of documents my dad had rubber-banded together.

"Jen, these are old gas and electric bills from six years ago. I'm pretty sure you don't need to keep these."

I took a quick scan and then placed the garbage can between us. "Toss anything that isn't financial. I don't need to keep old bills. What is in those new boxes over there? Is that your stuff?"

Hyunji tapped the bottom box with her foot. "Nope. That's all Lisa Manoban fan mail."

"Are you serious?" The stack was as tall as me and spanned the entire wall. I opened the top box, finding letters and packages addressed to both of us at Kim's Pub. "Oh holy hell."

"Yep. I didn't know where else to put them. Hey, here's a key. Looks like it belongs to an old Chevy."

"Make a pile." I grabbed the first letter on top, slicing it open with my finger. I scanned through the regular fangirl fawning—how she's so wonderful, sexy, marvelous. I tossed it into the garbage bag. I noticed another one addressed to me care of Kim's Pub. The address was handwritten in chicken scratch. I got as far as "you don't deserve her you whore" when I threw it in the bag. My hand slightly trembled.

"Do you remember the night of the Reparation premiere, how Lisa was sort of freaking out?" I turned to look at her sitting on the floor.

"Uh huh."

"She was worried that someone in the crowd might try to hurt us, shoot us, stick her with a needle while she was signing autographs."

Hyunji gaped at me. "Seriously?"

I nodded.

I opened a manila bubble envelope that had what looked like underwear in it. "Eeeewwwwee." Just looking at it made me want to disinfect my house.

Hyunji's face scrunched. "Oh my God. Is that some girl's underwear?"

I felt like throwing up. This was like eight boxes of Angelica the psycho-stalker all over again. "People on this planet are seriously screwed up."

I tossed the fan panty envelope right into the trash bag. Some fangirl's skanky panties were now going to pollute a landfill somewhere. "You know what's even scarier?" I kicked the stack of boxes stuffed with fan mail. "When you start to actually add them all up."

I rifled through the pile, grabbing a few that were addressed to me. The first letter was a weird mix of congratulations and warnings not to mess it up. Unbelievable. The next one wasn't so benign. My hands started to shake. Not again. Not freaking again.

Hyunji noticed me stagger back into the boxes. "What's that?"

It was hard to speak. "Um, it says someone is going to kill me if I don't end it with Lisa."

"Let me see that." She grabbed it out of my hand. "Where's the freaking envelope?"

I handed it over.

"No return address but it's postmarked from Ohio. You need to tell Lisa about this. This shit isn't funny. I know you don't want another Mino incident but chicks out there are crazy."

She was right.

There was nothing stopping another person like Angelica from coming after me, and if the stacks of mail behind me were anything like the letter I held in my hand, there were a lot more psychos out there wishing for my demise.