The Celebrity

Scott stumbled into bed, not completely sure what time it was, but the light slipping past his curtains was not a good sign. It meant that his parents would be in shortly to harass him about going to school. It was funny how they still thought that kind of thing mattered. Hadn’t they figured out yet that details of the War of 1812 or Pythagoras’s theorem weren’t going to get him a job?

Besides, Scott already had one of those, and it paid him a whole heck of a lot more than anything else he’d ever go after. Even more than his parents’ jobs. Combined. A lot more.

Knock-knock.

At least they still bothered to announce their presence. As if they cared about his privacy. As if they didn’t try to control every aspect of his life.

Scott didn’t answer, instead closing his eyes and slowing his breathing. Better to pretend to be asleep. He was so tired in another minute he wouldn’t have to fake it.

But he heard the knob twisting. The door opening. The soft footsteps of his mother. At least it was her. Now there was a chance of him staying home.

The bed sank on one edge as his mom sat, her hand resting lightly on his arm. She smelled like her favorite cucumber lotion.

“Hey, Scotty, rise and shine.”

He groaned in response, like she’d just woken him.

“Nice try, but no getting out of it today. Not if you’re going to graduate.”

Scott opened his eyes and flopped over, so he could see his mom. She was dressed in her usual pantsuit, ready to go to the law office. Scott had told her she didn’t need to work as a legal assistant anymore—a job she hated. He’d take care of her. But she refused to quit.

“What’s the point, Mom? I already know everything there is to making it in life, and I didn’t need a piece of paper to do it. Besides, I have my private tutor when I’m on the road. That counts toward graduation, right?”

Her lips pursed. They’d had this conversation many times, and neither had managed to sway the other to their point of view.

“If you’d actually listened to him and done the work, yes, it would have.” She paused. “I know you love music. And you’re crazy talented, and the world had the sense to notice it. But nothing can replace a good education. The entertainment industry is a fickle business, and there’s no guarantee that in five years you’ll still be playing sold-out stadiums.”

Yes, they’d had that conversation too.

“Then why did Matt’s parents give him full control of his career, including his finances? Jordan has full control too.”

His mom released a long sigh and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Which is why you were out all night. Bungee jumping off Jordan’s roof. Three stories up. While his parents are out of town for their anniversary.”

So, she knew. That was fast, even for her.

“You could have been hurt,” she said, and Scott subconsciously touched one of the many bruises he’d gotten over the course of the evening. “Your friends… I know their parents are doing the best they can. This is uncharted territory for all of us. But Matt and Jordan spend their money as quickly as they make it, which is a feat with how well your band has been doing.”

Annoyance bubbled in Scott’s chest. “You make it sound like we’re still fourteen and playing in the garage.”

“I sometimes wish that were true,” his mom said, her voice sad. “You boys had so much fun. I never had to worry about where you were because you were either playing your hearts out in our garage or you were in the kitchen, eating everything you could get your hands on.” She paused. “Now? I pray every night that you’ll come home safe.”

Guilt pricked at Scott, but he pushed it away. He wasn’t a little boy anymore. He was seventeen, and he had made more money in the last three years than his parents had in the last twenty. Scott had also traveled further than either of them—had more experiences. Who were they to lecture him on finances or life choices? The problem was that they didn’t trust him. They never gave him a chance to prove himself, instead insisting that they knew best.

Once he turned eighteen, all that was going to change.

“I’m not going to school,” Scott said, then turned his back to his mom. He had some sleep to catch up on.

His mom didn’t leave. “You can’t hang in there for three more months? You’re so close.”

Three more months to the end of the school year, but only seventy-two days until his birthday. Not that he was counting.

Scott heard a sniffle and turned back to his mom. Her eyes were moist, a few stray tears making trails down her cheeks. He sat up all the way and pulled her into a hug.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” he murmured. “I just… I can’t do it anymore. Not even for three months. You don’t know what it’s like to go to that school every day. If I still had Jordan and Matt, it might be different. But once they left…”

His mom surprised him by pulling away and standing. “They don’t go to school either?” She gave a small shake of her head. “This wasn’t the life I wanted for you. Or them. You were good kids.”

Before Scott could answer, she left, shutting the door behind her.

He had won that battle. No school for him today. So why did it feel like a loss? Scott snuggled back under his down comforter, but he couldn’t sleep, his mind now too busy, his mom’s words playing on repeat. Sure, he partied a bit and skipped school when he was tired and not wanting to deal with people. Which was nearly every day.

But he was still a good guy—wasn’t he?

* * * * *

Something was off.

A thick tension had settled over the house the past couple of weeks, and as Scott shoved his phone into his pocket, a sense of foreboding accompanied it. Hopefully, he could slip downstairs unnoticed. He’d been avoiding his parents whenever possible, and they seemed to be returning the favor. His mom didn’t even bother getting him up for school anymore.

Scott walked down the two flights of stairs from his room at the very top of the house. Most would say he lived in the attic, but he preferred “private quarters.” His parents sat in the front room, papers spread around them. Scott’s foot squeaked against the wood as he moved off the last step, and both their gazes swung toward him. His mom looked guilty.

Whatever this was, it wasn’t good.

“Going out,” he said. “Don’t wait up.”

Scott knew his mom would stay up anyway. She couldn’t sleep whenever he was out late, no matter how many times he told her not to worry—that her staying up all night didn’t help either of them.

“Just a minute, Scott,” his dad said, straightening. “We have a couple of things to talk about before you go out with your friends.” When Scott opened his mouth to protest, his dad interrupted before he had the chance. “It’s important. And it needs to happen. Now.”

Scott’s dad was a manager of a local bank, and he knew how to deliver bad news. He had that same aura about him now, his gaze piercing.

Scott knew better than to argue with that look. He moved into the room and sat on the couch across from his parents. He hated that couch. It was eighteen years old—a gift to his mom when she was pregnant with him. His mom said it held memories, but Scott thought it probably held more dirt and dust than anything. He wished his parents would let him buy them a new couch. A new house. All the things they deserved but would never accept. Not from their seventeen-year-old son.

“You’re throwing away your future,” his dad started in, skipping any niceties. Scott supposed they were past those at this point.

“If you hadn’t noticed, I’m doing pretty well. New album. Going out on my third tour at the end of the summer. People can’t get enough of me.”

“But that won’t last forever,” his mom said, almost pleading. She was stuck on repeat, not knowing any other track. It was like she hoped this time would be the one he finally heard what she was trying to say. Scott did hear—he just didn’t agree. Plenty of music artists were able to move seamlessly through the decades, their music adapting to the times.

“We make our own destinies.” As soon as Scott said it, he knew it sounded like something you’d find on a cat poster.

“Scotty,” his mom tried one more time, but her words faltered, and whatever she was going to say seemed to get stuck in her throat.

Scott’s phone beeped with a new text. His ride was there. He stood from the couch and shoved the phone back into his pocket. “Matt and Jordan are out front—”

“They can wait,” his dad said, a crispness to his tone. “We’re not done here.”

“But—”

His mom walked over and placed a hand on Scott’s shoulder, her voice soft. “Listen to what he has to say.” She pulled him so he sank onto the couch, but this time she sat with him, as if she were offering moral support.

Scott pulled his phone back out and shot a quick text, telling his friends to hold on a moment. Just as he tapped the send icon, his dad spoke.

“You’re going away for the summer.” His dad held up a hand, as if already anticipating the outburst Scott would have. Because there was no way there wasn’t going to be an outburst—no way Scott was going to accept those six little words without a fight. “I’ve already talked to your manager, and it’s worked out so your recording obligations will be finished before June, and I verified that you won’t leave for your tour until Labor Day weekend.”

“What, like bootcamp?” Scott asked, leaping back to his feet. “You can’t send me away. I’ll be eighteen.”

“Not bootcamp,” his mom said. “A summer job. It will be fun. Your last hurrah before going out into the world as an adult.” She was trying to cajole him, make it seem like it was something other than the fact that they were sending him away. It was probably that thing where they dropped troubled kids in the middle of the desert and made them figure out how to survive.

Hurrah.

Scott snorted and folded his arms across his chest. “You haven’t been able to make me go to school. What makes you think I’ll agree to this?”

His dad also crossed his arms over his chest, matching Scott’s stance. “Because you want control over your money. Your own life. This is how you’re going to get it.”

A sliver of panic rose in his chest. Could they do that? He’d thought once he turned eighteen, everything would turn over to him. “You can’t do that. It’s not legal.”

“I’m currently a joint owner on your bank account. You need my signature for me to be removed from it.”

Scott’s mind raced. “But I can still take money out. I could remove all of it.”

“Not when your account is frozen.”

Scott’s thoughts froze with it.

He didn’t want to believe it possible, but his dad did manage a bank, and there was no way he’d do anything that could jeopardize his own career. His dad was a rule follower by nature and expected the same from Scott.

“Congratulations,” Scott finally said, giving his dad the slow clap. “You’ve managed to take my assets hostage. You’ve become a real master manipulator, pulling one over on your teenage son. I bet you feel real good about yourself now.”

His dad gave him a long stare, the hardness dissolving into something else indecipherable. Sadness, maybe. Except, Scott’s dad didn’t do sad. He did grumpy, angry, indifferent. But never sad. Until now.

“We just want what’s best for you. Want you to rediscover who you are. Someone other than the rock star.” His dad picked up a pamphlet from the table and walked it over to Scott. “It’s only for ten weeks. If you stick it out, I’ll sign everything you need.”

Scott gave in to his curiosity and took the pamphlet from his dad. A montage of pictures was splayed across the front. Someone riding a zipline. Another person rappelling over a cliff. Four-wheelers donned another page.

“What is this place?” It didn’t seem like a survival camp.

“A dude ranch. A place where people can ride horses, get out in nature, stay in cabins,” his mom said with a bright smile, though it seemed forced. “They’ve already told us they have a position for you. An activity guide. All you have to do is show up.”

“A dude ranch. Tour guide by day, cow tipping by night.”

Scott’s dad threw him a wry smile. “Something like that.”

Well, it could be worse. But he and his friends had plans. And they involved him not being sent away to learn to lasso.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Not much to think about.”

Dreams of beach parties were quickly fading, being replaced by the image of him hot, sweaty, and alone in the middle of nowhere. Might as well be survival camp.

But his dad had made one thing clear.

Scott didn’t have a choice.

“Fine. I’ll go,” he said. “But I’m not going to forget this—the ultimatum you’ve given me. That’s not what parents do when they supposedly love their children.”

Scott’s phone chimed again, and a car horn blasted from the driveway. He didn’t say goodbye to his parents this time or tell his mom not to wait up.

He didn’t want anything to do with them right now. Not after what they’d done.

What he needed was a distraction. And Jordan and Matt were just the guys who could help him with that.

Free at last.

Julianna rolled her suitcase behind her as she exited the small airport in St. George, Utah. The doors automatically slid open in front of her, and the heat of the day crashed over her. She wished she hadn’t stowed her baseball cap in her luggage.

A shuttle sat next to the curb a few yards to Julianna’s right, the logo for Zion Ranch and Resort faded on the side. A smiling woman leaned against the side of it, her face tilted up to the sun, almost like she didn’t care whether someone decided to hitch a ride or not. She was just enjoying the day.

Julianna pulled in a long breath. She could do this.

In spite of her family’s expectations, she’d managed to make it all the way from Minnesota, and she hadn’t freaked out once. Her parents had thought she’d make it as far as the end of the driveway before changing her mind.

No, she’d never been outside her small town, and certainly not by herself. Like her parents, she was a homebody. She liked comfortable. Predictable.

But there was nothing in Lakeview for Julianna. Along with comfortable and predictable, Julianna was also invisible.

And so she’d decided she was going to take control of her life—do something new and unexpected. It had been fate when Julianna had seen that post on her social media feed. A resort in Utah was hiring for the summer. You just had to be eighteen, which Julianna was—barely. Close enough that they’d hired her.

Ten weeks. Seventy days.

And they were going to be life changing.

They had to be because she couldn’t allow herself to go back to being invisible.

So, Julianna squared her shoulders, put on a smile that she hoped came across as confident, and walked up to the shuttle.

When the woman hadn’t yet acknowledged Julianna, she tried for the classic clearing-the-throat routine, but it came out more like a hacking cough.

The woman started, her heel slipping off the curb, and she fell into the van’s side.

“Are you okay?” Julianna asked, leaping forward to help.

The woman waved her off, laughing. “Yeah, yeah. Sorry, I got caught up in the moment. The clouds are beautiful today.” She stole another glance, like she couldn’t get enough.

Julianna didn’t know the last time she’d taken a moment to look up at the sky, but when she tilted her face up, imitating the woman, all she got was a face full of sun, and she quickly shut her eyes.

The woman’s eyes crinkled as she laughed. “Face this way.” She circled her finger midair, indicating for Julianna to turn around, so they were both looking in the same direction. “Now try again.”

Julianna felt her cheeks warm with embarrassment, and she really didn’t care about the clouds anymore, but she did as the woman asked and looked up.

It was then that she understood why the woman hadn’t wanted to look away.

“Wow,” Julianna said softly. The sky looked like the type you only saw in movies, where the clouds were as puffy as cotton candy and appeared so close you thought that if you just reached out far enough, you could touch them. Julianna leaned against the shuttle, imitating the woman. The clouds were moving surprisingly fast, and she wanted to ask them what their hurry was—why they couldn’t stay a while longer.

It was the first time in months that she’d slowed down long enough to enjoy the moment—to feel at peace.

“Hello,” a voice said.

It was much closer than Julianna would have expected, and she jumped. When her gaze whipped away from the clouds, she lost her balance—and fell into the shuttle. Just as the driver had done moments before.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” A girl who looked maybe a year or two older than Julianna stood in front of them. She had wild mousy brown hair, freckles, and the most piercing green eyes that Julianna had ever seen. On top of all her frizz was a cowgirl hat. A plaid shirt and jeans completed the ensemble.

Julianna wondered if she was supposed to have all that stuff. She knew they were technically going to be working at a ranch, but it wasn’t a real one. They just said that for marketing purposes. Real ranches didn’t have places to get a massage, and they didn’t make your bed each morning and leave a chocolate on your pillow.

“Nice hat,” the driver said, then turned so she faced both girls. “You’re my only travelers on this shuttle. The rest are either coming on the next one, or they procured their own way to the ranch.” She held both arms out to her sides. “I’m Kat, short for Kassandra. Welcome to your first day of working at Zion Ranch and Resort.”

“Isn’t Kassie short for Kassandra?” the other girl asked, an eyebrow raised.

“If you’re the type who likes the name Kassie.” Kat leaned in close. “But I’m not that type.” And then she straightened and released another round of infectious laughter. Julianna liked her already.

Kat placed a finger under her chin, and her gaze flitted between Julianna and the girl with the hat. “You must be Julianna,” she said, pointing to the other girl.

“Nope, sorry. Penny.” She extended a hand, and Kat shook it.

“Pleased to meet you. Short for Penelope, I’m assuming?”

Penny’s lips tilted up on one side. “You’d think so, but my parents didn’t want to take the chance that I’d actually want to go by my full name, so they went with the nickname from the get-go.”

“Penny it is.” Kat turned to Julianna. “Let me guess, you go by Julie.”

“Nope, no nickname for me.”

“Not even an occasional Jules?”

Julianna had never considered the need to shorten her name. Sure, it didn’t roll off the tongue, but what was wrong with that? She liked her name. “Just Julianna.”

Kat nodded, her eyes bright, like she suspected that would change by the end of the summer. “Okay, just Julianna, let’s throw your suitcase in here and get on the road. Your journey today is not quite finished.”

Kat opened up the back of the shuttle and placed both Penny and Julianna’s luggage in, then ushered the girls through the side door.

As they buckled their seatbelts, Penny asked, “How far is it to the ranch?”

“An hour and a half. But it will go by quickly. We’ll be driving through Zion National Park to get there, and if you’ve never seen it…well, you’ll just have to experience it for yourselves.”

“I’ve never been anywhere,” Penny whispered, like it was a dark secret that she’d rather Kat not know about.

“Me neither,” Julianna whispered back. And then they both laughed, like it was their own inside joke.

They leaned back into their seats, and Julianna released a contented sigh.

“Excited for the summer?” Kat asked, looking at the girls through her rearview mirror.

“Very,” Penny and Julianna replied in unison. And then they laughed again.

And just like that, for the first time in four years, Julianna had made a friend.

* * * * *

“Wowza,” Julianna said, stepping out of the shuttle. “This is…incredible.” A giant three-story barn sat in front of them, a large field stretching out behind it. There weren’t any cows, but there was a swimming pool. Julianna thought she’d probably enjoy that better.

“I know, right?” Kat bounded out from the driver’s seat and opened the back door to the shuttle. “You’ll get to explore all of it on your days off. As long as there are openings, you can join the guests on the activities.”

Julianna took her suitcase from Kat. “What kinds of things do you have?” She knew they at least had a zipline because it had been featured on their website. Julianna tilted her head back until she saw it—at the top of the third story of the barn. It went over their heads and all the way into the middle of the field.

Penny followed her gaze. “That is really high.” Her voice shook slightly, like she wasn’t a fan of heights. Julianna didn’t know if she was or not. She’d never had the chance to test it out.

“It’s not so bad,” Kat said, handing Penny her duffel bag. “But if you’d rather keep your feet on the ground, we have everything from shooting clay pigeons to four-wheeling. There’s also rock climbing, rappelling, archery, paintball, and, of course, hiking through Zion National Park.”

“Oh, lovely,” Penny said, though Julianna could have sworn that she was now three shades paler than she had been.

“If you look down that way, you’ll see the stables.” Kat pointed down a dirt road that led past the barn. “Because, seriously, what ranch would be complete without horseback riding?” Kat eyed Penny’s cowgirl hat when she said it and gave her a friendly wink.

“Awesome.” Penny’s enthusiasm was nothing like what it had been on the drive over. It seemed forced, like maybe she hadn’t realized what she was signing up for.

If Kat could tell how nervous Penny was, she didn’t give any indication, instead rattling on like there was nothing out of the ordinary. “You both already received your assignments?”

Penny looked like she was still struggling to find her words, so Julianna spoke first. “I’m in the kid’s camp.” She didn’t know what that was, but it sounded like it could be fun.

“Ooh, that’s one of my favorite assignments in the place. Everyone always wants to be an activity guide, but I personally think the kids’ camp is where it’s at.”

Julianna wondered if she should ask what that meant, but Kat’s attention was pulled away by a man walking out from the barn. “Look at me, chattering away,” Kat said, a lovely pink hue now tinging her cheeks. As if the man’s presence had caused it. Yes, he was good-looking, in a lumberjack kind of way, with his plaid shirt and the beginnings of a beard, but he also looked a bit gruff. Like she and Penny were just the beginning of many things on his to-do list. Maybe he was Kat’s boss.

“The first to arrive,” the man said, striding up. He smiled and stuck his hand out, his whole demeanor completely transformed. “I’m Jimmy, and I manage the activity barn, which means that if you are a guide, we’ll be seeing a lot of each other over the next three months.”

He looked between the two girls, as if waiting for them to confirm whether they were indeed activity guides.

“I’m in the kids’ camp,” Julianna finally said, partially raising her hand.

Jimmy gave a nod in her direction, but his gaze seemed stuck on Kat, who had taken a few steps back. “I’m not involved in the camp,” he said, “but you will be housed on the second level of the activity barn, so we’ll still pass each other from time to time.” He managed to break his gaze away from Kat and turn his attention to Penny. “And where are you lucky enough to be this summer? Kids’ camp as well?”

Penny seemed to have lost her voice, but after a moment of awkward silence, she said, “Um…no. I’ll be an activity guide.” She looked like she wanted to throw up at the admission.

Yikes.

Jimmy didn’t seem to notice. Instead, his expression lit up. “That’s wonderful. I look forward to working with you.” His gaze returned to Kat. “We’ll be having a good old-fashioned chuckwagon dinner tonight to welcome everyone, but until then, Kassandra will help you find your bunk and get settled.”

Kassandra? It was strange that he was so formal with a woman who clearly thrived on informal. If it bothered Kat, she didn’t give any indication, though her smile may have momentarily dipped. It was difficult to tell because it had quickly returned, as big as ever. Too big.

Kat was about to say something, but her words were cut off by an approaching car. More like a boat, actually. And it was off-roading on the gravel, making its way to the barn.

“A limousine?” Penny squealed.

Okay, a limousine boat. There wasn’t much difference in Julianna’s mind.

Jimmy placed his hands on his hips and released a long sigh. “And so it begins.” Rather than stick around to welcome the newcomer, he spun on one heel and quickly made his way back into the activity barn.

Kat seemed to feel the same sentiments as her co-worker and motioned for the girls to follow her. “Because you are first to arrive, you get first choice. Do you want to sleep on the second floor of the barn or underneath the lodge?” She nodded toward a long one-story building that bordered the swimming pool, then lowered her voice. “Just a word of advice—the apartment under the lodge has fewer girls, more privacy, and your own shower. But if you want to hike across the field and up the hill to use the guest showers, that’s your call.”

Julianna and Penny shared side glances, then laughed.

“The lodge sounds lovely,” Penny answered.

Kat released a dramatic sigh. “I guess if personal amenities are your thing, I won’t try to stop you.” A grin then burst across her face. “Right this way.”

Penny followed Kat, but the limousine was now parked in front of the barn, and Julianna hung back. What kind of person not only rode in a car like that to a dude ranch but then instructed their driver to take them off-roading in it? They really couldn’t bother to walk from the parking lot down to the barn? It was like fifty yards.

Curious, Julianna slowed her steps and moved toward a low wall that separated the gravel from the grass. She sat down and pretended to be insanely interested in the barn, and then the blue sky above her, which had considerably fewer clouds than earlier. Anything to not look like she was waiting to see who was going to step out of that limousine.

As it turned out, it was well worth the wait.