Page 6

“You’d think a girl whose book is being made into a major Hollywood film would behappy.”

She’s right. Because Harper’s the one who always calls me on my shit.

And Iwashappy. Iam.

When my film agent, Rich, called a few days after we’d returned from Italy to tell me theWhen in Romefilm was finally happening, I’d been over the moon. After the book was optioned7ten years ago, it had lingered in development8for years, and I’d given up hope of it ever seeing the screen.

But all of the publicity surrounding my almost-murder in Italy had revived interest in the project. They already had a script and they wanted to rush it into production.

I’d whooped in delight and spun Harper around the kitchen, and then Emma had called, brimming with excitement. They’d offeredherthe part of Cecilia Crane! We were going to haveso much fun!9

It seemed like a dream, especially when it was confirmed that Connor was going to be played by Fred Winter.

TheFred Winter! One-time Oscar-winner, big-time movie star.

Emma’s had a crush on Fred since high school, when he burst onto the scene in a schlocky surf movie that showed off his, well,assets. Ever since she disclosed that in an interview at the beginning of her career, people have been fan-casting them in movies.

And then there was the location. I’d been worried we were going back to Italy, which seemed like a bad idea with one of the people who tried to kill me still on the loose. But they’d decided to film in California. I could visit the set as often as I wanted, and Instagram about it to Harper’s content.

It all seemed too good to be true.10

“I’ll keep quiet,” I say to Harper, and I feel bad for embarrassing her. This was supposed to be an amusing day for us, being extras in one of the last scenes, which calls for Emma and me to share a moment of eye contact, like she is looking at her future self—and, of course, she is!11“I didn’t mean to ruin the day.”

“One minute to slate!”

“It’s fine,” Harper says. “They always do several takes. Simone will get over it.”

“Right,” I say, but somehow I doubt it.12

I try to make eye contact with Simone to calm the waters, but she’s deep in her clipboard. Plus, trying to speak to her would involve everyone hearing what I had to say, which I’m sure neither of us would appreciate.

She’s probably heard this entire conversation, anyway. Of course she has. I never turned my mic off. Amateur mistake.

Oh, well. Maybe I’ll find time to talk to her at the wrap party. Though I don’t know what the wrap party’s going to change. But I can always hope for the best.

Hope for the best and expect the worst, my mother used to say. And then she got hit by a drunk driver and died way too young, so I guess she knew what she was talking about.

Sorry about that. That got dark for a minute.

Weareat the beginning of a murder mystery, though.

You should know it’s going to get dark.

“Places!”

I snap away from my memories and glance over at Emma’s table. A makeup artist is touching her up while the continuity girl refills her glass to the level it was at the beginning of the scene.

Emma seems so serene and calm, and then Fred13reaches across the table and touches her hand briefly. An intimate gesture that makes her beam.

They began dating right after they met in pre-production. They kept their relationship under wraps for the first month, but then it burst out of them after they filmed a particularly dramatic scene, and the cat, as they say, was out of the bag.14

And I’m happy for her. I am.

I mean—Fred Winter!

Everyone says they’re perfect for each other, and I think so,too. I’ve even been taking credit for their match because, hello, if I never wrote the book, they never would’ve met.

So that’s all of us.