Ava Comes Home Read Online Free Page A

“The one that says ‘Beam me up, Scottie.’”
    Ava threw back her head and swallowed the pills dry, but she knew headache tablets weren’t going to help her mood. She had to let Harold down gently.
    She went over to him and laid her head on his shoulder. “Would you be awfully cross if I went home? I don’t feel up to this today.”
    â€œWe don’t have much time. The Oscars are only a week away and you haven’t decided on a thing.”
    She straightened up. “All right, I’ll make an exception. You gather up as many gowns as you can find around town and bring them over to the house. It will be easier there.”
    â€œHaven’t I told you that all along?” Harold sniffed. “Why on earth do you pay me if you don’t listen to a thing I say?”
    â€œI’ll be good. I promise.”
    Two days later, after hours of trying on gowns, she reached a decision and chose a black Anise Godfrey jacquard bustle-back gown. The exquisite dress fit her small frame perfectly before falling away from her hips in a full skirt of intricately patterned fabric. With the neckline straight across her bodice and simple straps over her milky shoulders, she and Harold agreed she’d need only a pair of diamond drop earrings set in platinum to show off her ensemble.
    Ava’s entourage breathed a sigh of relief that at least something was decided. It was Lola who was chosen to broach the subject of an escort, since Ava hadn’t mentioned it one way or the other. She got her opportunity the next night as the two of them were being driven to the club du jour, Leo’s in West Hollywood.
    â€œWhy did I say I’d meet Hayden at Leo’s?” Ava sighed. “I hate these places.”
    â€œBecause Hayden practically lives there, that’s why. Speaking of Hayden, have you thought of who you’re taking to the Oscars? I suppose he’s your logical choice, since you’ve been dating him off and on for a couple of months.”
    Ava looked down at her hands. “I know that’s why he asked me out tonight. He’s dying for an invite.”
    â€œHayden Judd is the perfect date, if you ask me. He’s the hottest star on television at the moment. You’ll make a gorgeous couple.”
    Looking out the car window, Ava leaned against the palm of her hand and watched the buildings go by. “I don’t want people to know I’m dating him. Besides, he’s a show-off.”
    â€œWell, that’s true enough,” Lola agreed. “He’d grab the first microphone he could find and interview himself on the red carpet. So if you don’t want Hayden, then who?”
    She turned around. “You wouldn’t like to go, would you?”
    Lola’s mouth dropped open. “Are you joking?”
    â€œWell, why not?”
    â€œCan you imagine what Trent will say?” Lola laughed. “Or Camilla for that matter. I can hear her now. ‘The tabloids will say you’re a lesbian!’”
    â€œI don’t give a monkey’s uncle what they say. Will you come?”
    â€œOf course I’ll come! But you better break it to Hayden gently.”
    â€œI know. I know.”
    The driver let them out at the front of the club where there was a line-up of beautiful people waiting to get in. Some of them, including a few paparazzi, shouted Ava’s name. She smiled and kept going as the doorman unclipped the velvet rope allowing her and Lola to slip inside.
    The music was pounding and the dance floor crowded with bodies, thanks to two DJs who worked their magic by spinning records at a furious pace. The Mod-inspired interior was surprisingly bright. Cocktail waitresses decked out in mini-dresses and white patent-leather boots moved surely across the floor.
    Ava looked around and spied Hayden on a low leather Barcelona chair against a retractable glass wall. He had a drink in his hand and two young blond women