And the only person who knew that side of her in real life was Andre.
Sure, he was nine. But he was completely impressed that she knew every secret incantation in the Book of Emor and that she was a sixth-level sorceress. He couldn’t care less that she might get a job in New York modeling makeup, but he was obsessed with her trip to Comic-Con last year. He had zero opinions about the magazine spread for the clothing company she’d just done for their spring line, but he thought the sword and breastplate she’d worn to Comic-Con were the best thing he’d ever seen. He wasn’t wrong. They were very impressive. In the right crowd.
“I completely understand that need to be real and grounded,” Naomi said. “Those years I spent in California were amazing in some ways, but man, I missed home.”
“How’d you get started?” Ami had caught up on Zoey At the Zoo re-runs but hadn’t talked with Naomi a lot about her years of being internationally famous. It was still surreal knowing a TV star.
“I wanted to act and my mom indulged me in community theater and local auditions for commercials and things,” Naomi said. “I got discovered doing a local ad in New Orleans. I don’t think any of us expected it to turn into Hollywood.” She laughed. “But my mom rolled with it. At least for a while. Is your mom your rep?”
Ami nodded. “Yeah, she’s my agent. She's the one who got me into pageants and modeling in the first place.”
“My mom was my rep too. But she was the one that got me out.”
“What do you mean?” Ami leaned in.
“Things got weird when I turned thirteen. Do you know what the show was about?”
“Of course. You were Zoey, a little girl whose family owned a zoo. The show centered around Zoey’s adventures in the zoo and educating viewers about the different kinds of animals.”
Naomi nodded. “Exactly. But Zoey had friends on the show, and one of the kids was a guy about my age. We were always good friends. Nothing more. We started on the show when we were eight. But at my thirteenth birthday party the paparazzi got a picture of us hugging. The media went crazy with it. The fans started talking about it and our agents decided it would be a great media angle for us to pretend that we were romantically involved.”
Ami's eyes widened. “They were putting you in a pretend relationship with your costar at age thirteen?”
“Exactly. My mom said no way and when they pushed back, she said we were done. I quit the show, retired, and came back to Autre.”
Ami had met Monique LeClaire. Yeah, she could imagine Naomi and Michael’s mom standing up to anyone who was doing something to someone in her family she didn’t agree with. Ami loved Monique. “Wow. Were you upset?”
“Not at all. I was so happy to come home. I really wanted a normal life. I wanted to be around my friends, I wanted to go to school, I wanted to go to ball games, and dances, and just be at home with my family. I missed Autre and all the people in my life. So I was happy it happened. It was fun while it lasted but I haven't missed it.”
Ah. The normal life. Ami was suddenly incredibly jealous.
“Wow, you look wistful,” Naomi said, bumping Ami’s foot.
Ami shook herself. “Sorry. I was actually just thinking about how nice that sounds.”
“You don't like what you're doing?”
Ami shrugged. “Oh, sure, I like it. I mean…it’s my job. But I’d love to come home to…” She glanced around Michael’s living room again. “Something more, you know?”
Naomi nodded. “I do. Are you thinking about doing something else?”
Ami laughed. “What else would I do? I have no other talents.”
Naomi frowned. “Come on.”
“I’m serious. I’m the pretty one.” She reached over and squeezed Naomi’s hand when her friend looked concerned. “And I’m okay with it. My modeling career has given me so many advantages. I get to travel. I get to live in nice places and have great clothes and make good money. I am lucky. I know that.”
“But damn, Ami. Being Miss Louisiana isn’t just being prettier than everyone else or putting on your makeup right. It takes tons of work. It takes poise, and confidence, and discipline. Not just anyone can do that.”
“You’re sweet. And I appreciate that.” She really did. Hearing Naomi get defensive on her behalf warmed her. “But…lots of people could. Either of my sisters could. I mean Abi would hate it, but she could if she wanted too. You definitely could. Fiona could. Caroline could. I mean, pretty much any of the women who have come into the Landry family could. And hell, Kennedy did for several years.” Ami grinned when she thought about her cousin, who now dressed mostly in black and had multiple tattoos and piercings.
Naomi still looked bothered. “Well, I mean this as a sincere compliment—you're very good at what you do and I know you work hard.”
Ami gave her a smile and a small shrug. “Thank you. It's what I know.”
But she wanted it to feel like more.
Autre made her feel more peaceful and centered, but it was also what had inspired her to do more. She’d come up with the idea to fund scholarships and small business grants with some of her modeling money because of Autre.
In this town, there was always a deeper layer. Her grandma’s bar was a perfect example. It was, basically, a very typical small-town bar. But it was also a gathering place. A place people went to celebrate, to commiserate, to feel a sense of belonging. There was always hot food, warm smiles, great memories, and advice if you wanted it—or jokes if that was more your mood—there.
Her cousins’ swamp boat tour company was similar. Yes, it was a tourist attraction. Yes, the people who took the tours had a hell of a good time. But they also learned something on those tours. They got a sense of this place—the people, the animals, the culture, the feel of this part of the world.
Then, of course, there was her cousins’ petting zoo that had quickly gone from a family of otters and a small herd of alpacas to a full-fledged sanctuary that was home to endangered and rescued animals.
Even the convenience store on the corner inspired her. To someone who wasn't paying attention, it looked like it just sold gas and candy bars. But there was always a jar next to the register that was collecting donations for some local charity…and that jar was always pretty full. It also didn’t take long hanging around town to find out that the guy who ran that convenience store also gave away a lot of free cups of coffee and sandwiches to people in need and that he was one of the biggest donors to the local library.
And those were just four examples.
She couldn’t even get started on the guys who wore badges in this town—her cousin Zander, the cop, Michael the fire chief, and all the others—who considered protecting the town their personal, twenty-four-seven mission.
Every business, every job, in Autre went deeper. Everyone gave more and it made her want to do the same.
“Sometimes I just—”
“What is all of this?” Andre asked as he ran into the room, cutting Ami off.
“Makeup,” Naomi said. “We're ready to do your lipstick and eyeshadow.” She pulled him in and blew a raspberry on his neck.
He giggled but wriggled away. “No, no! We have to read!”