Girls on Film Read Online Free PDF Page A

get.”
    “I’ve got two secretaries and an assistant to remind me—”
    He was cut off by the ringing of his cell phone. “Jonathan Percy,” he answered, and listened for a moment. “Hey! Great to hear from you!” He smiled and mouthed to Anna, “It’s your sister!”
    Anna’s sister, Susan, was currently three weeks into her latest rehab stint. Alcohol was her poison of choice, though other illegal substances had been known to find their way down her throat, up her nose, or into her veins. When Susan stayed sober, she and Anna had a great relationship. The problem was—for the last few years, at least—Susan never stayed sober for very long.
    Her father was frowning now. He pushed the phone at Anna. “She wants to speak to you,” he said coldly.
    Anna took the phone, wondering what her sister had just said that had so angered their dad. “Sooz?”
    “Hey, I’ve been calling your cell all day. Don’t you check your voice mail?”
    “Oh, sorry, I … lost my phone,” Anna said, since it was too complicated to explain.
    “God, I’m reduced to calling our so-called father.” Susan shuddered. “How can you stand living with him?”
    Anna flicked her eyes at her father, who was watching her with great intensity. She couldn’t understand why Susan was suddenly so furious with him. Yes, he’d neglected them. But his had been sins of omission, not commission. Plus it seemed like change was possible. On New Year’s Day, Jonathan had called Susan in rehab and told her how much he wanted to repair their relationship.
    “Everything’s fine,” Anna said.
    “Bull,” Susan spat.
    “Is this what you called to tell me?”
    Now her sister laughed. “No, you brat. I just wanted to say that Hazelden gave me back my phone privileges, and you’re the first person I’m calling.”
    Anna grinned. Aside from her animosity toward their dad—which was an ongoing thing—Susan sounded good. Maybe this was the time that rehab would actually work for more than a few months. “So how’s it going there, Sooz?”
    “Fine.”
    “No, really,” Anna insisted. “Tell me.”
    “I’m
fine
, big sis,” Susan teased.
    Anna laughed. Even though Susan was two years older than her, Susan often joked that Anna acted like the older sister. “You sound better than you did the last time we spoke.”
    “I was in an existential funk, questioning the meaning of life, all that. Plus I was coming down from a sugar high. Four Snickers bars with a root beer chaser.”
    “Lovely.”
    “Well, at least I’ve started working out again. That feels good. So listen, get a new cell so I can call you, okay? You have my number.”
    “Okay, tomorrow,” Anna promised. “You really do sound a lot better, Sooz.”
    “Hey, I’m the never-say-die girl. So, how long are you hanging at Dad’s?”
    “I don’t know. Awhile. I’m going to Beverly Hills High.”
    “Well, doesn’t that suck.”
    “Yes, actually,” Anna agreed.
    “So you’re not, like, leaving anytime soon?” Susan asked.
    What was this about? “No. Why?”
    “So I know where to
reach
you, Anna.”
    “Here.”
    “There. Right. Got it. Okay. Love you, little sis. Talk to you soon.”
    Anna handed the phone back to her father. “Did you have a nice chat?” he asked sarcastically. “Because she practically bit my head off.”
    “I think she sounded better, Dad,” Anna said, hoping her words would placate him.
    He stuffed the phone into a pocket. “Quite a temper on that girl.”
    “According to Mom, she got it from you.”
    “Maybe she did, maybe she did.” He puffed out some air. “You want to go to L.A. Farm for dinner? They’ve got the best ahi on the west side.”
    “I’ve got a date. Kind of.” She rose. “I’d better do my homework and get ready.”
    Her father frowned but walked her out of the kitchen. “Not with the schmuck from New Year’s Eve, I hope.”
    “Definitely not.”
    “Well, if he hurts you—whoever he is—let me know. I’ll