Star Style Read Online Free PDF Page B

because your boyfriend is busy on national television, it doesn’t mean you have to keep me away from mine.’
    Olivia looked deflated and Ivy realised her sister might be feeling a little upset about the whole not-going-public last night. ‘I shouldn’t have said that,’ Ivy apologised, unhooking herself from Brendan. ‘I was just teasing.’
    ‘No, no,’ Olivia said. ‘I’m just being sensitive.’
    ‘It won’t always be like this,’ Ivy said, getting up to put her arm around Olivia. ‘He was so angry not to be able to walk with you.’
    Olivia nodded. ‘I know. He wouldn’t stop saying that on the phone just now.’ She sniffled and Ivy wanted to kick herself. Today was supposed to be about cheering Olivia up, not reminding her of her troubles. ‘There’s a post-premiereparty tonight, and I’m going to see him there.’
    ‘How about we watch the rest of the singalong?’ Brendan suggested, to Ivy’s relief. ‘Not that I know the words or anything.’
    ‘I already saw you mouthing along,’ Ivy said, plopping back down on the couch.
    Olivia snuggled down in the single black armchair and Ivy was about to un-pause the movie when the pipe-organ doorbell rang.
    The three of them looked at each other. Ivy wasn’t expecting anyone else to join them. Sophia was still taking photographs for
VAMP
magazine, and Camilla Edmunson, Olivia’s best friend, was visiting her aunt for the weekend.
    ‘Could one of you get that?’ called Mr Vega from the kitchen. ‘I’ll be right there!’
    Ivy hurried to the huge oak door and pulled itopen slightly, wondering if it might be a cleaning-product salesperson.
    Instead, it was Lillian, looking casual-fabulous in a black turtleneck, jeans and brown ankle boots. She was carrying a foil-covered tray. ‘Dessert!’ she said and Ivy stepped back to let her into the wood-panelled entryway.
    ‘Hi, Lillian!’ Ivy said. ‘Nice to see you again.’
    ‘Thanks,’ she said, and waved at Olivia and Brendan, who were staring from their seats. ‘It’s nice to see this house. I can tell I’m going to get good advice from your father.’
    ‘Definitely,’ Ivy agreed. ‘But what are you doing here?’
    ‘Your dad wanted to go over some decorating ideas . . . Oh, I love that movie!’ Lillian declared, having caught sight of the TV screen. ‘Let’s get together, yeah, yeah, yeah,’ she sang.
    Ivy smiled and then laughed out loud whenher dad came hurrying out of the kitchen. He was wiping his hands on the pink floral print apron that someone had given him as a joke when he had almost moved away from Franklin Grove.
    ‘Lillian,’ he said, a little breathless. ‘Thanks so much for coming.’
    She handed over her tray. ‘As promised.’
    Mr Vega beamed and it struck Ivy that he seemed a lot more excited than usual to have a lunch guest. ‘Double dark chocolate cookies,’ he said, peeking under the foil. The most amazing chocolate smell filled the air and Ivy had to admit that Lillian’s dessert did seem worth getting excited for.
    ‘Lunch is almost ready,’ Mr Vega said. ‘Ivy, will you take all our guests into the dining room?’
    Ivy was surprised. She had been expecting finger foods at the kitchen counter, not a sitdown meal. ‘Uh, sure. You heard him, layabouts,’she said to Olivia and Brendan, who were still lounging in front of the TV. ‘Right this way,’ she said to Lillian, with a little bow.
    As they walked through the entryway, past the suit of armour, Lillian said, ‘So, girls, how did you like last night?’
    ‘It wasn’t exactly my scene,’ Ivy replied. ‘But I think Olivia could get used to it.’
    Olivia grinned. ‘I wonder if there were any good photos of me.’
    As they reached the dining room, Ivy saw that the candles were lit down the long oak table. Mr Vega was definitely out to impress. After all, it wasn’t every day that a Hollywood director came to lunch.
    Just as they sat down, the doorbell chimed again.
    ‘I’ll go,’ Ivy