“I’m taking a short break. Still weighing up my options. How about you? Congratulations on getting that part in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. You’re going to be brilliant! How’s it going?”

“Okay, thanks.” Zoe ate quickly and then put her fork down. “I need to do my homework. I’ll leave you two to catch up, and I’ll see you later.”

Milly frowned. “But you haven’t seen Nicole in ages and—”

“It’s fine,” Nicole said. “We’ll have plenty of time to catch up, I’m sure.”

Zoe carried her empty plate into the kitchen, leaving the two of them alone.

Nicole finished her drink. “Why are you looking so worried?”

“Because that’s not like her. Normally she’d be firing questions at you about Hollywood and acting. Usually it’s all she talks about.” Milly topped up Nicole’s glass. “Sorry. Ignore me. It’s just that something isn’t quite right with her at the moment, and I can’t work out what it is.”

“Have you asked Richard if he knows?”

“No. I should probably do that. Anyway, enough of my anxieties. If you want to tell me why your next project is a sensitive subject, then I’m listening.”

Nicole finished her salad. “You don’t miss a thing, do you?”

“I’ve known you a long time.” Milly pushed her plate away. “Maybe this is the part where you tell me why you’re here. A few bad news headlines have never made you run before.”

“It’s complicated.” How much should she say? “I’ve been dropped from my next movie because they didn’t appreciate the negative publicity. Which feels unjust, given that none of it is my fault and that Justin is about to film his biggest role ever. His reputation is fine, of course. If anything, it has been enhanced.”

Milly looked irritated. “But you’re a huge star! How can they do that?”

“Justin’s wife is close to the head of the studio, so I assume she has influence. Whatever. It doesn’t matter. The way I feel now, I’m relieved that I’m on hiatus.”

“That’s unfair. You don’t deserve it.”

Nicole laughed. “Since when has life been fair? We all get good and bad, and just because you don’t deserve something doesn’t mean you don’t get dumped with it.”

“But why didn’t he stand up for you?” Milly took a sip of water. “I suppose that wouldn’t have endeared him to his wife.”

“Exactly. Also, he didn’t care enough.” She watched as a heron glided past and landed gracefully on a branch at the edge of the lake.

“Tell me about Justin.” Milly put the glass down. “Were you in love with him?”

Justin. She’d been trying not to think about it, but maybe now was the time. And she owed Milly some sort of explanation.