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CHAPTERONE
ZOEY
The hairand makeup trailer is steaming hot and growing damper by the minute in the Louisiana downpour. With the AC broken in our sub-par trailer, I have no idea how Anna and I will look anything like Meghan Marconi today. We’ll wind up frizzy fast, even if the stylist does our hair and make-up exactly like Meghan’s. As her stunt double, this matters less for me, but as her stand-in for lighting, camera work, and b-roll, Anna’s messy hair will cause problems on screen.
“But Mike, it’s our anniversary!” Anna says, sighing into her phone from the salon chair next to me. I guess her husband Mike is letting her down again. He’s always prioritizing work over their relationship. She pouts at me, and I do my best to give her an empathetic face crinkle.
A knock at the trailer door startles me. No one knocks around here, and certainly not our hair stylist. I glance at Anna who’s still glued to her phone. She hasn’t noticed the noise. Sliding from my chair to answer the door, I wince as my sore left ankle takes my weight. Thank god we’ve got a week’s break coming up, and all I’ve had to do the last couple of weeks is high-speed car chases through the Louisiana Bayou. No physical combat, jumps, or other body work. Otherwise, I’d need to take sick days, and then production would hire a sub, and I’d most likely wind up competing with someone else for the contract on the next two movies in Meghan’s crime thriller trilogy.
“You’re Anna Anderson, right?” The set coordinator squints inside, holding a bouquet of roses under her sodden umbrella. The Bayou is great for moody scenes, but I’m so done with filming in this wet, unseasonably hot Fall weather.
“Zoey Anderson,” I correct. “That’s Anna.” I point at my sister. We look strikingly alike, and, of course, strikingly like Meghan Marconi.
The coordinator shrugs, hands the roses to me, and leaves. I turn to Anna, who sees the flowers and bursts into tears. This is why I need to stay in Meghan’s movies. Anna isn’t doing so great these days, and while I’m replaceable, Anna isn’t. She and Meghan are a package deal. Where Anna goes, I need to be.
“Mike’s not coming on our anniversary cruise.” Anna’s voice cracks. Crossing the room as quickly as I can with my gimpy ankle, I shove the roses onto the counter in front of her and wrap her in my arms, holding on tight. She shakes with silent tears. This isn’t the first time Mike’s skipped an anniversary. In their five years of marriage, this will be his third miss. But these days, their relationship is more tense than usual.
“Mike’s cheating.” Anna sniffles into my hair. “He wants me to go on the cruise without him; says if he can’t enjoy it, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t. But it’s the Love at Sea cruise! How can I go alone? He must want me tucked away so he can put his penis wherever he pleases!”
“Even though Mike works too much, it doesn’t mean he’s cheating.” I rub Anna’s back. For years, I’ve been telling her this, but I worry she’s right. I’ve never met a man who wasn’t up to something. Why else has he bailed so many times?
“Mike works for a beauty retailer, Zoey.” Anna raises her eyebrows at me with meaning. “All his colleagues are beautiful women.” She shudders as I rock her side to side. Grinding my teeth, I hate that I’m helpless to keep her safe. Gasping, she jumps from her chair, hands in her hair.
“Oh my god, Mikejusthired a new assistant. Oh no, no, no.” Anna taps on her phone and finds the girl’s LinkedIn photo. Even I have to admit the new assistant looks like corporate Barbie. “She’s the one, she must be.” Anna groans, pacing the trailer, and I sink into her chair, elevating my ankle on the counter. Anna’s dark mutterings make my heart shrivel like a raisin in the sun.
An old memory rises. I’m eleven. For months, my fourteen-year-old sister hadn’t left our darkened room, hadn’t talked to anyone. I try to crawl into her bed, to curl around her like we used to, but she won’t let me in, pushing me away with her feet. She cannot go to that place again. I won’t let her. Even if I don't know how, I'll make sure she's alright.
“Here’s an idea,” Anna says after a few minutes. My stomach tightens. Anna’s ideas tend to lead nowhere good. But she holds up a hand before I can object. “Hear me out. There’s only one day of filming left before we break. As soon as we’re done, I’m getting on the next flight to LA. I’m gonna catch Mike in the act once and for all. But I’ll be telling Mike and everyone else I’m on the cruise. That way, he won’t suspect a thing.”
This idea is better than when we entered a competition to win five hundred bucks in college, only to end up Jell-O wrestling at a frat party. Or the time Annaforcedme to duet with her at Mom’s karaoke birthday, and several patrons threw sesame buns at my head. Although, I get it - my frog-voice ruined Anna’s superb rendition ofHappy Birthday, Mr. President.
“Hi, Mike, Sweetie.” Anna’s already back on the phone.
“Hi, Hun.” On speaker, he sounds wary. Anna’s voice is too saccharine for anyone’s good. She’s a woman of passions - high highs, low lows, and everything in between. It’s why Mike fell for her. It’s also why he might be terrified of her.
“I decided Iwillgo on the cruise without youafter all.” She winks at me, villain-style. But the mascara smearing her cheeks lessens the evil-genius effect. “You were right. Since we’ve already paid for everything, at least one of us shouldn’t miss it.”
“If you’re sure?”
“Very sure. But I’ll be going to all the singles events instead of the couple’s activities, since I won’t have a plus one anymore…”
Mike coughs like he’s choked on some water.
“Mikey, are you okay?” a woman’s voice says in the background.
“Mikey?” Anna hisses. “Seriously?” Muffled noises, then silence.
“Great, Anna, sounds like you’re all set then.” Mike’s voice is tight. “Don’t forget to send pictures of all the outstanding singles events you attend. I’ll glue myself to Instagram.”
“Your three pm is here, Mikey.” The woman is audible again.
“Alright,Mikey, I guess you’d better go. I look forward to seeing you when I return to LA.” Anna’s voice is syrupy once again.
“You look forward to seeing me?”
“Oh, honey, you have no idea.” Anna hangs up and turns to me with a dangerous glint in her eye. “New plan, Zoey.”
“What now?”
