Emancipated Read Online Free Page B

to let them live in her own house on Venice Beach. She’d even lined up the first of four other people that she’d insisted had to share the house. He was a guy named Paolo King, a sophomore who coached tennis at Katelyn’s country club.
    Candace and Grace had already checked him out online. They’d agreed that he was a total hottie. Katelyn had mentioned that she’d heard Paolo was going out with some rich girl that he coached, a college student.
    â€œNo hookup potential for you then,” Grace had told Candace.
    â€œEww, I don’t do younger guys, thanks,” had been Candace’s response. “I don’t care if he goes out with college girls. Even if he is cute.”
    A couple of girls were practicing a combat sequence a little way down from the waiting area where the corridor opened into a break room with watercooler, candy machine, and beanbag chairs. Both girls were tanned, lithe, and dressed almost identically to Candace in cargo pants, sneakers, and snug-fitting sleeveless tops. For a few minutes, Candace watched.
    â€œI should have made you practice a fight with me,” she muttered to Grace.
    Grace raised an eyebrow. “I’m game if you are. Let it never be said I wasn’t willing to look a fool for my girl.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous.” Katelyn scowled. She adjusted her flowing linen trousers so that the hems fell evenly, then crossed one leg daintily across the other, dangling an elegant black-and-white Jimmy Choo slingback. “Look how sweaty they’re getting.”
    â€œThis Gina is some riotous badass,” Candace said fiercely. “She kills a guy with her own hands in the first episode. ‘Sweaty’ is a good look for her.”
    â€œIs this really the kind of part you want, darling? You’re such a gorgeous girl. More of a graceful type. Dancers, singers; that’s what you should play.”
    â€œThey get actual dancers and singers to do that, Mom. I’m an actor. I can play any part. It’s on TV and it calls for a degree of pretending to be someone else. So yeah, this will do just fine.”
    â€œBut it’s such a teeny role,” Katelyn said. “It’s going to tie you up and keep you from auditioning for other things while you’re under contract.”
    Candace rolled her eyes at Grace, who merely raised an eyebrow in response. “Mom, that’s bull.”
    â€œEven if it doesn’t,” Katelyn continued, now defensive, “I’m not going to support you taking more parts. Not while you’re still in high school.”
    â€œSeriously?! God, I wish Tina were here instead of you! She’d never say anything like that. She’d put me up for any TV part going.”
    â€œWell, that’s a difference—one of many—between that woman and me,” Katelyn said loftily. “She wants you to be famous so that she can come along for the ride. Whereas I’m your mother, I love you, and I want you to have some kind of balance in your life. If anyone knows what the life of an artist can be, what it can do to those who love you, it’s me.”
    Grace didn’t say a word, but Candace could see the rigid control in her face as she tried, yet again, not to rise to Katelyn’s daily criticism of Grace’s mom.
    Through tight lips Candace said, “Could you leave the martyred-wife-of-an-artist speech for some other day, Mom, please?” A note of desperation entered her voice. “I need your support. Do you have any idea how much Tina did to encourage me? It’s not easy to lose that. Honestly, any kind of break into TV would be amazing. So I don’t care if I have to play a boxer with a shaved head—anything that gets me screen time is good.”
    From down the hallway a voice called, “Candace Deering?”
    Grace stood up with Candace. She hugged her tight for two seconds. After a moment, Candace released her and