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goodbye to Isaac and darted down the street.
    “It’s about time!” She smiled when Claire arrived.
    “Sorry,” Claire panted as she opened her jacket and draped its puffiness around Massie’s shoulder. “Thanks for waiting.”
    “Of course I’m going to wait.” Massie rolled her eyes. “I need you to photograph our entrance. And stay on my left side. It’s more photogenic than my right.”
    “Oh.” Claire slid the jacket off Massie’s shoulder and wrapped it around herself, zipping it all the way to the top. She had gone from cool to cold in a matter of seconds.

N EW Y ORK C ITY
    V ILLAGE S TUDIOS
    Monday, March 9th
    8:38 A.M.
    The coffee-and-toast smell of Village Studios’ stark lobby made Massie regret skipping breakfast—not that she could have gotten anything down even if she tried. Her stomach was locked and her nerves held the keys.
    “Which way to the set?” she asked the frazzled, headset-wearing receptionist with the lipstick-stained can of chocolate Slim Fast on her desk.
    “Village Studios, this is Joyce, please hold.” She hit a button on the switchboard. “Village Studios, this is Joyce, please hold.”
    Massie twirled her gold charm bracelet and sighed.
    “Village Studios, this is Joyce, please hold.”
    Massie tapped the top of Joyce’s desk. “Um, excuse me,
Janet
.…”
    Kristen and Alicia muffled their giggles.
    “Which way is the studio? Merri-Lee Marvil is expecting us.”
    “Have a seat.” Joyce pointed to the black leather couch in the waiting area. “Someone will be with you shortly.” She poked her switchboard. “Village Studios, this is Joyce, please hold.”
    “Um,
Janet
, you may not realize this, but the show is live in, like, fifteen minutes, and we’re supposed to meet Abby and Hadley be-
fore
they go on. Not after.”
    Joyce shooed Massie away as though she were a flea-infested cat.
    “But our friend Dylan is waiting for us in there,” Alicia pleaded. “Maybe you know her? She’s Merri-Lee’s
daughter
.”
    Joyce responded by swiveling her Herman Miller chair so that her back faced them.
    “You are so dead to me.” Massie made an X with her fingers, indicating that Joyce had severe split ends.
    “She is so getting sued.” Alicia fell back on the overstuffed couch.
    “Let’s tell Merri-Lee to fire her.” Massie sat.
    “Do you think I could get her job?” Kristen asked.
    Claire was about to sit too, when Massie lifted her right palm. “Hold!”
    “What?”
    “Can you get a shot of us in the waiting room?”
    “Of course, your highness. I would be honored.” Claire cocked her digital camera. “Anything for you.”
    Alicia and Kristen immediately turned to Massie.
    “What? I thought you liked photography.” She stroked her ponytail. “I thought this was the ultimate assignment for you. I
thought
you’d be excited.”
    “I am.” Claire’s expression softened. “Sorry.” She raised the camera.
    “Wait!” Massie lifted her palm again. “Kristen, let me switch places with you.” She rolled directly across her friend’s lap. “I have to be on the left.”
    “Ready?” Claire asked.
    “Dial C for Cheese.” Massie flashed a fabulous, toothy smile.
    Then a stocky woman pushed through the glass doors with the grace of a linebacker in three-inch heels. A walkie-talkie was clipped to an empty belt loop on her black Levi’s and a clipboard was nestled under her armpit. “Mayse Black plus three?”
    “I think you mean Massie Block.” Alicia giggled.
    She shrugged.
    The girls jumped to their feet.
    “Follow me.”
    She led them down a gray-carpeted hallway, the walls filled with autographed head shots of former
Daily Grind
guests. “I’m Kay.”
    “O-Kay,” Massie responded, deadpan.
    “Yes?” Kay tucked her dry brown bangs behind her ear. “Did you have a question?”
    “No, we’re O-Kay.” Alicia bit her lower lip, fighting a smile.
    “Good.” Kay sounded somewhat confused but satisfied. “Then let’s make