A Starlit Summer by Kate Frost (best manga ereader txt) 📕

It was the elephant in the room, her mum skirting around the topic Jenna knew she was dying to talk about.

Jenna dunked a digestive in her tea. ‘I assume you’ve seen the latest gossip?’

Kath nodded and cupped her hands round her tea. Her knuckles turned white. ‘About you, Milo and Heidi. How did she get dragged into all of this?’

‘She dragged herself in – actually no, there was no dragging needed. She wants the attention.’

‘So she’s really with Milo?’

‘As much as anyone can be with Milo.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘Nothing. I’m not with Milo, never have been, never will be. I don’t care what Milo and Heidi get up to, I just want to be left out of everything.’

Jenna watched her mum sip her tea; she knew she was trying to work out what to say.

‘What about your agent. What has she said about the situation?’

‘Oh, she loves it. She’s had offers pouring in.’

‘Really? Well, that’s good, isn’t it?’

‘Sort of.’

‘What have you been offered?’

‘Well, that’s the problem, it’s mostly been reality TV.’

‘Okay...’

‘The main one being The Love Hotel.’

‘Oh.’ Her mum’s eyes widened. ‘That’s quite an opportunity, isn’t it?’

‘It pays loads. Super high profile.’

‘You don’t sound sure.’

‘I don’t really feel sure about anything. What do you think? What would Dad think about it?’

‘Your dad will say go for it – you know what he’s like, always one for jumping in headfirst and thinking about it afterwards.’

‘And you?’

‘I don’t know what to think really. You don’t sound happy about it, but then the amount of attention you’ve received because of this Milo Blake thing... The truth is, I’m worried about you, love. You were so happy when you first went down to Cornwall, and now, I don’t know. You seem to have the weight of the world on your shoulders. I don’t think I’m in the best position to advise what you should or shouldn’t do. What do your friends say? People you know in the business? They’re the best ones to judge.’

‘Everyone can see both sides – the good and bad. It could be the best thing ever or it could destroy everything I’ve worked hard for.’

Kath tipped her head back and closed her eyes. ‘What is it they say? You only regret the things you don’t do, not the things you do.’ She looked directly at Jenna.

‘So you’re saying I should do it?’

Kath placed a warm hand on her arm. ‘I’m not sure what I’m saying. I guess I can’t say I like the idea of you parading about on TV...’

‘It’s not parading...’

Kath shot her a look. ‘They’re half naked most of the time; I’ve seen the show, it’s all about sex and flouncing about in a bikini. But what I think shouldn’t stop you from doing it, if that’s what you really want. You’re young and beautiful, Jenna. What young woman wouldn’t go for that kind of opportunity? I mean, if I was thirty years younger, as gorgeous as you and single, well...’ She raised an eyebrow.

Jenna stood up and went over to the sink. She leant on the side and looked out across the garden. The olive tree she’d bought for her parents’ thirtieth wedding anniversary last year was doing well, its silvery green leaves looking beautiful beneath the late afternoon sun.

She turned back to her mum. ‘I already said yes to it.’

‘Oh, you did. Well, that’s fine then, isn’t it, love? Your decision’s made.’

Jenna bit her lip. Was that disappointment in her mum’s voice? Or maybe it was worry. Her parents would support her whatever she did, wouldn’t they?

Kath scraped her chair back. ‘Well, your dad will be back soon. We thought we’d get a takeaway this evening. You can invite Carla over if you like.’

Jenna nodded, downed her tea and took her bag up to her old bedroom, which was now another spare room. It didn’t take long to unpack. She messaged Carla about coming over and immediately got a reply, simply saying, ‘hell yeah!’

~

Jenna was glad of Carla’s reassuring presence as they sat together at the dining table, half-empty trays of curry between them. Carla had been a staple in their lives since Jenna was eighteen and had started drama school, but it felt like they’d known each other longer than that.

Kath broke off a piece of poppadum and turned to Carla. ‘What do you think of all this stuff going on with Milo then?’

‘Honestly, I’m conflicted. I keep thinking what I’d do if I was in her position. I mean, Milo wouldn’t touch me with a bargepole. I’m not his type.’ She winked at Jenna. ‘The wrong kind of blonde, too many tattoos and piercings for his liking. But if I looked like Jenna I’d probably lap up the attention and accept the opportunities with open arms – but that’s because I’m not used to it.’

The tips of her faded pink hair were dyed purple, a change since the last time Jenna had seen her. Jenna hated the way she thought of her ‘girl next door’ looks as a curse rather than a blessing. She’d had so many people being jealous of her over the years, when at times she’d have traded it all in to look like Carla, beautiful in her own way: individual and full of character. She was cursed by being the perceived idea of beauty. She had nothing to complain about and yet she felt trapped by her looks into being something she wasn’t.

Carla glanced between Kath and Tony. ‘Milo’s a sleazeball playing Jenna and Heidi against each other.’

‘But why’s he doing it?’ Kath frowned. ‘He’s famous enough as it is. Why does he need the extra attention?’

Carla scooped up a forkful of pilau rice. ‘Because he can.’

Jenna played around with the food left on her plate. It was difficult to explain the reasoning behind Milo’s actions without spilling the truth. Maybe she should? Why the hell was she protecting him? She gripped her fork tighter and skewered a piece of onion bhaji. She knew why, because as easily as