Free (For His Pleasure 14) With His Belief by Kelly Favor

going to keep their promises.”
    “Good, because otherwise things are going to get ugly around here.”
    “Lydia, it sounds like you’re making threats,” Nicole said.
    “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Lydia replied, looking innocent.
    “Maybe she’s just trying to get attention,” Danielle said.
    Lydia put a hand on her hip. “If I was trying to get your attention, you’d know it.
    And I wouldn’t do it by wearing some hideous green skirt from the seventies.”
    Danielle looked down at her green skirt. “This is an Oscar De Laurenta skirt. Are you out of your mind?”
    “Maybe Oscar was out of his mind when he made that thing. If he even did.”
    “Okay, okay, okay. That’s it,” Nicole said, her voice loud and her eyes flashing.
    “I’m not going to put up with this bickering anymore. I brought you all here to have a nice time and to plan something for Kallie. If you don’t want to do that, then maybe you should just go.”
    Lydia tossed her hair. “That’s fine. I knew I wouldn’t be treated with respect here.” She glared at Scarlett. “I’m used to being let down, though. Anyway, it’s okay.
    The people who need to know will know soon enough that I’m not just trying to get attention. And then there will be some apologies owed.”
    “I’m sure,” Danielle said, still with her back turned to Lydia.
    Lydia turned and stormed out and Scarlett followed after her. She didn’t want to, but she was terrified that this incident would push her to send out some crazy email or make a phone call and tell everyone about Kallie and Hunter’s contract.
    When Lydia got outside, she spun around to face Scarlett. “I’m sick of this,” she practically yelled.
    “Sick of what?”
    “You promised me. You said we were friends.”
    “We are friends.”
    Lydia laughed a sharp, barking laugh. “You call this being friends? You barely even acknowledge that I exist.”
    “I’m sorry if you feel that way.”
    “Well, I do feel that way. You never call me, you never include me in anything.
    And I can tell that you don’t even really like me, Scarlett.” Now there were tears in Lydia’s eyes.
    “That’s not true,” Scarlett said, but a little voice inside her head was saying otherwise. Why would I like someone who’s blackmailing me ? she thought, but knew that wouldn’t be a good thing to say out loud right now.
    “I see the way you look at me—with contempt.”
    “That’s not true. And I do want to include you.”
    “Because I’m thinking maybe this would all go away if I just told everyone—
    everyone—what Hunter Reardon’s really like.”
    Scarlett felt panic rising in her chest. She could feel Nicole behind her, watching and listening to everything that was being said. “Listen, you should come by the set tomorrow and hang out,” Scarlett told her.
    Lydia’s eyes narrowed, mistrustful. “I don’t want to be invited just because I threw a tantrum and you want to shut me up.”
    Scarlett forced herself to laugh, and act as if nothing could be further from the truth. “I’m inviting you because I want you to come.” She stepped forward and put a hand on Lydia’s shoulder and looked her straight in the eye. “The truth is that I’ve been super busy and caught up in my own petty little dramas. But I shouldn’t let that get in the way of our friendship, and I won’t let it get in the way of our friendship again. I promise.”
    Lydia thought about it, the beginnings of a smile starting at the corners of her mouth. “You really do promise?”
    “I really do. Come tomorrow afternoon, I’ll text you the address.”
    “Afternoon? Don’t you start filming at like the crack of dawn or something?”
    Scarlett laughed. “We do, but I thought you might be bored sitting around waiting while they get everything set up. And the actors won’t even be there yet.”
    “I don’t care,” Lydia said, grinning. “I’ll be there with my bestie.”
    Scarlett felt a pit