Page 6 of Sandbar Summer (Summer Cottage #3)

On the drive back to Goldie’s exclusive Trousdale neighborhood, they looked at Twitter and read headlines deriding Goldie Hayes.

“Ms. Hayes, what do you want me to do here?” Hollis said.

The women peaked out of the tinted window at the drive to Goldie’s estate. About two dozen Victor Superhero Universe fans were there, with signs and chanting the same stupid thing.

“We can’t go in there,” Libby said.

“I need to get out of town,” Goldie said.

She was finding her voice again. That was good. Her friend had been stunned by the turn of events. But she was rallying.

“Where to?” Hollis asked.

“Chateau Marmont, I can hold up in a bungalow,” Goldie said. “Tally, we’re going to drop you off next door. Ellen’s staff knows you. You can sneak around to my place. I need you to pack for me.”

“What do you need?”

“The standard two-week stuff, like I had for Cannes last year.”

“Got it.”

Hollis drove one spot over, and Tally exited.

By the time they got to the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, Goldie was more tiger than deer in headlights. She was mad. Libby saw this as a good sign.

“I cannot believe that little snake, cannot believe it. My career is up in flames over one bro dude director. It’s outrageous. I wonder if I should call Variety. Offer my side?”

She was throwing a million ideas out. It was a spaghetti fling of P.R. campaigns, and Libby mostly just listened. Goldie needed to burn off the adrenaline of the last few hours being under attack. She wiggled her foot at the ankle, pent-up energy struggling to find release in the back of the SUV.

Finally, they made it to the hotel. Hollis dropped them off with orders from Goldie to go back to get Tally.

Libby didn’t want her friend to be alone, so she walked up to the lobby with Goldie.

Goldie approached the desk.

“My usual bungalow, thank you.”

She didn’t need to introduce herself. She probably never did anywhere on the planet.

“It will be just a moment, Ms. Hayes. Can we get you a drink?”

“Yes, vodka and soda, a double. My nerves are shot. Libby, you?”

“Yep, sounds good.”

“We’ll be by the pool.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I stayed here after I won the Oscar and after I broke up with Drake. It’s a good hideout.”

Libby knew there was quite a history to the place and was amazed at how sort of dingy it looked. But whatever, if Goldie felt safe, that was key.

It took less than two minutes for that safety to evaporate.

“GET GOLDIE GONE!!”

Libby and Goldie turned around to see another dozen Victor Universe t-shirted zombies working on getting past the hotel bellman.

“How in the heck did they know I was going to be here?” Goldie said.

“Get us out of here,” Libby said to the desk clerk.

He was quick on his feet and escorted them to an office, away from the lobby.

“I’ll be getting the police, so sorry about this, so sorry.”

Libby and Goldie sat in the office of the hotel manager. Libby was stunned at everything that had transpired since she’d found Goldie’s little dog trotting out of her gorgeous home.

“I’m at a loss. This is insane.”

Goldie, for her part, also seemed stunned by the turn of events. Even in the life of a major movie star, the last few hours had been nuts.

“You didn’t have this place on your schedule.”

“No, they must have followed me.”

“Unless…” Libby’s suspicions had been raised back at the convention center.

A few clicks on Twitter, and there it was: an exclusive video of the crowd at Dream Factory Comic Con. There was a video of Goldie running. Someone had already sold the footage to the paparazzi.

“One of the fanboys?” Goldie asked.

“No, this is us running toward the camera. Look, the partition is behind us, and so is the crowd. It could only be one person.”

“Hollis!”

“I’m afraid so.”

“He sold the video and then tipped them off that I’d be here? He’s worked for me for three years!”

“They were probably paying big money.”

Goldie put her head in her hands. “Ugh, now what, now what?”

“You need to get out of L.A.”

“I do. Yes.”

“Come to Irish Hills with me. There’s a flight at four.”

Goldie looked at her.

“Lake Manitou? I mean, I do need to be really under the radar.”

“No more under the radar than the old Two Lakes Grove Hotel. Remember that place. It’s totally empty. You’d have the run of the place, and you’d have your Sandbar Sisters. We’ll help you hide out. Lick your wounds. Drink. Whatever you need.”

“I thought Hollis was a friend, sort of. I guess he was just here for the money.”

Libby wanted to hug her friend. She wanted Goldie to feel safe enough to cry, yell, or do whatever she needed. But Goldie had a wall up; it had been up even before the events of the day. She was used to being taken advantage of by people wanting a piece of her and not giving anything in return.

Instead, Libby reached out a hand again. Goldie took it. Goldie blinked away tears. She squeezed Libby’s hand in thanks. And then pulled back and wiped her face.

“Your idea is the best one on the table.” Goldie fished her cell phone out of her purse.

Libby watched as Goldie dialed.

“Hey, yeah, it’s a no go here. I’m getting out of town,” Goldie said.

“Oh—” Libby whispered, “you need to tell her to meet us at John Wayne Airport. That’s where we’re flying out of.”

“No, we’re taking my Net Jet,” Goldie said to Libby. “I’ll reimburse you for your commercial ticket.”

“What?”

“Kid, I haven’t flown commercial since Beautiful Girl broke the box office in ‘92. Do you have luggage for Tally to get?” Goldie winked at her.

“Uh, it’s in the rental car outside your house.”

“Grab my friend’s stuff out of the car, return it to, uh, John Wayne too, but later. The priority now is getting us out of here. Also, do not tell Hollis. He no longer works for me.”

Well, okay. Libby watched as Goldie made one phone call in which half a dozen details were sorted.

“Also, send a car and driver to the Marmont. Get that going after the jet. Don’t tell anyone anything. I’m going way undercover. Make sure the wigs, the hat, all that is easy for me to get to. See you in Van Nuys.”

Libby was flying a private jet back to Michigan with the biggest movie star in the world. This really was the weirdest day!

The good news was that Libby had succeeded in convincing Goldie Hayes, super famous superstar, to come back home to Irish Hills.

The bad news? They couldn’t tell a soul.