Read Riverstar (3) for Free Online Page B

because of her reputation but because she wasn’t pretty enough to carry a film. Now destined to be a character actress, more the quirky best friend roles or the psycho neighbor, or, as was the case in this film, the sister who doesn’t get the man. It would be up to her now, in Bella’s opinion, to act so well that no one could dispute her talent. There was honor in that. No matter the sharks posing as critics or the haters that posted cruel things about her on their blogs and tweets and Facebook pages.
    “I think I saw her sister in town the other day.” Annie set her drink on the coffee table. “I hope this doesn’t sound callous but it freaked me out a little when I saw her. I thought it was Tiffany at first and then she turned and I saw her scar.”
    “It happens all the time. Sabrina hates it. She never goes to events or parties because of it,” said Bella. Sabrina’s scar was a skinny scarlet ribbon that ran from her left cheekbone to the corner of her mouth.
    “Does anyone know what happened to her?” asked Stefan.
    “No one I know,” said Bella. It was one of those things no one could ask. Everyone knew about it and wondered how it happened but neither of the sisters talked about it.
    The conversation continued but Bella wasn’t fully listening. Where was Ben? Had he decided to skip dinner after what happened between them?
    Drake had disappeared out back to grill the meat. Bella excused herself from the group and followed him, careful not to spill what was left of her martini. The light had faded by now; it was just an orange glow behind the trees. “Is Ben coming to dinner?” she asked her brother.
    Drake, shutting the cover of his grill, looked at her sharply. “No. He decided he had something better to do, apparently.”
    She watched him. His light blue eyes were cold. “Are you mad at him?”
    He set the spatula on the bench next to his grill. “You know, Bella, I am. I don’t know what he thinks he’s doing. Kissing you this afternoon and then running off like a coward.”
    “You know he kissed me?”
    “Yes, unfortunately, I do.” He walked over to the outside cooler where he kept drinks and grabbed a beer. “I happened to see you guys. I think I’m scarred for life.” This was Drake’s attempt at humor, she knew, but it didn’t come out funny.
    “I’m sorry.” She took a big sip of her martini. It burned her throat. “It’s my fault. I blew it with him and now he can’t get past it.”
    “You know what? I call bullshit on that. You’ve done what you needed to do and you’ve let him know you’re interested. If he can’t get it together enough to give you guys another chance when he’s clearly in love with you then that’s just cowardly and not the man I thought he was.”
    She stared at her brother. He’d never taken her side before, especially when it came to her choices with men.
    “You were brave, Bella, and that matters.”
    “I just did what Annie told me to do.”
     “That’s what both of us should do at all times.” He opened the grill, turned the meat and then closed the lid once more.
    They were quiet for a moment, sipping their drinks and listening to the sizzle coming from the grill. “Drake, are you okay about the baby?”
    His eyes were sad when he smiled. “I am. So very much. But it’s hard, you know, because I miss Chloe so much. I almost feel guilty for being excited.”
    “What’re you going to do about the two rooms you have shut off?”
    He opened the grill again. Smoke came out in a puff. “I don’t know.”
    “It’s not fair to Annie.”
    “I know. She hasn’t asked me to change them. Isn’t that amazing?”
    “It is. But it’s also time.” She paused, putting her hand on his arm. “I’ll help you.”
    “Yeah. Good. Okay.”
    “Drake, I remembered something about Dad. About the day he dangled me over rooftop.”
    He turned away, taking a paper towel and wiping the platter free of the blood left from the raw meat.