Free Hollywood Wives - the New Generation by Jackie Collins Page A

'Can you
imagine
the great Kyndra sweeping into my tiny house and
babysitting
?
Oh, when she has a free moment she takes Lulu. But you know what? That
woman
never
has a free moment - exactly like Lissa.'
    True
, Nicci thought.
My mom always has something going
on. If it's not work, it's a man
.
    'Will you bring Mac?' she asked.
    'I cannot
only
be seen with screaming gay men,' Saffron
said. 'I might bring a studly actor I met at an audition last week.'
    'Studly actor good,' the manicurist interjected, nodding knowingly.
    'How come you haven't mentioned him?' Nicci asked.
    'Cause you're always too busy catering to Evan.'
    'I do not cater,' Nicci said crossly.
    'Yes, you do.'
    'I so
don't
.'
    'Whatever,' Saffron said, admiring her manicure.
    'Coffee? Tea?' the manicurist asked.
    'No, thanks,' Nicci answered, as the other woman gently dried her
feet with a towel.
    'Can somebody run out and get me a Jamba Juice?' Saffron said,
tossing back her long dreadlocks. 'Raspberry with all that health stuff
in it. I need energy.'
    'So, have you come up with any ideas for the bridesmaids' dresses?'
Nicci asked.
    'I was thinking short and muted purple. Something way sixties with
an edge.'
    'Sounds cool.'
    'Maybe you should approve them?'
    'When do I have time?'
    'It's
me
you're talking to, Nic. You got the time to do
anything you want, it's not like you have a
job.'
    'Organizing a wedding
is
a job.'
    'I mean a
proper
job.'
    'I've
tried
a million and one jobs. Anyway,
you
can talk, all
you
do is go on auditions and
never
get the part.'
    'Thanks for reminding me,' Saffron said huffily. 'It's
so
good to have encouraging friends.'
    'Sorry!' Nicci said quickly, realizing she'd stepped into a
sensitive area.
    'Anyway, let's get real,' Saffron said. 'We're both supported by our
families.'
    'True,' Nicci admitted. 'Only
I'm
marrying Evan, so no
more hand-outs.'
    'Then
he'll
support you,' Saffron said. 'What's the
difference?'
    'There's plenty of difference,' Nicci said irritably. 'And anyway,
how come that big dumb basketball player doesn't give you more money?
Lulu
is
his daughter.'
    'Cause I don't care to take money from him,' Saffron said, her face
hardening. 'If I accept his money, then he'll think he has some big fat
claim on her.'
    'He should be giving you plenty,' Nicci said.
    'I dunno.' Saffron sighed. 'Whatever happened to all our feminist
vows growing up? We were gonna own the world. Remember?'
    'Yeah, well, all I want to
own is Evan,' Nicci said, which wasn't
strictly true because she didn't want to own him, just be with him.
'Y'know,' she mused, 'it's like I've dated so many bad boys, and
finally along comes a good one so I'm bagging him. Nothing wrong with
that.'
    '
And
let's not forget he's
mega
bucks rich,'
Saffron offered.
    Nicci hadn't really thought about Evan being rich. But then she
realized that of course he was.
Oh my God
, she thought.
Antonio's
marrying a rich woman. Am I doing the same! Copping out just so I'm
comfortable for the rest of my life
?
    No way. I love Evan. And if it wasn't for Brian…
    'I mentioned the phone call I had with my dad, didn't I?' she said,
trying not to think about Brian again.
    Saffron nodded. 'What was Lissa's reaction?'
    'Haven't told her yet.'
    'C'mon, girl. You gotta at least
warn
her.'
    'I will,' Nicci promised. 'This wedding's getting horribly close and
I'm nervous. Wouldn't
you
be?'
    'Don't worry about it,' Saffron said, waving her gold nails in the
air. 'I'm planning an
amazing
bachelorette night for you.'
    'You are?' Nicci said, perking up.
    'Yeah, top secret. You, my dearest friend, are gonna
love
it!'
    'Where were you?' Larry Singer asked, greeting his wife in the foyer
of their Pacific Palisades mansion. He was of medium height, skinny,
with a bearded, pleasant face bordering on homely, and a receding
hairline. 'I've been going crazy trying to find you. I almost called
the police.'
    'It's a nightmare story,' Taylor said, rushing toward the stairs.
'Let me take a quick shower and get