“My silk wrap. Stops the curly girls from getting all frizzy. Braided too. Extra effort, but it stops the knots.” He regards the wrap a moment, eyeing my hair for a beat before his eyes find mine.
“You look beautiful,” he says quietly, no hint of amusement in his tone.
My eyes land in my lap, toying with the ends of my shirt. My chest tightens and I raise a hand to rub at it as I lift my chin, determined not to let any of this weirdness change anything, not to let him get pastallof my defenses, even if he has somehow managed to crumble just a few. I kick up the corners of my lips and settle into the playful mask I have perfected over the years, he seems to relax a bit too.
“So, the Fourth, will you go with Noah and Addy?” I ask.
He only shifted slightly, like the answer didn’t matter. “Maybe. What will you do if Riley isn’t available?”
“I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
“Why don’t you come with me.”
“Caleb—”
“Notwith me,with me. I mean, do what I’m doing. Go to Chicago with Addy, Noah,andme. Separate hotel rooms, of course.” His smile is cheeky. “And if you decide you don’t want to crash the Karvelases’ holiday, you can come to my dad’s, just as my friend. Maybe even give him some shit. If you think I’m easy to stir up, you wait until you meet Papa Smith.” He laughs gently and I chuckle along with him.
“Hmm, that’s almost tempting.” I smile at him, taking in the glitter of joy that has seeped back into his eyes, which I hadn’t realized was missing from earlier until this moment. My stomach does that little flip that makes it feel all airy and light, and for a split second I lose my breath. I feel the sudden need to harness it, whatever this feeling is, like the fleeting nature of it scares me more than the vulnerability that comes with it.
“Umm…” I start, but then immediately second-guess myself, biting on my lip as I watch his eyes pour into mine all the things we both seem unable to say. “I’ll think about it.” I look back to my fingers, chuckling nervously. I have no idea who this version of me is, and I haven’t worked out if I like her yet.
“You’ll think about it,” he says with so much joy in his words, like he hadn’t expected I’d actually agree.
“And then maybe I’ll steal you to suffer theFiestas Patriaswith my family in September.” His playful smirk grows to its full intensity.
“Deal,” he says.
“Deal.”
CHAPTER 20
he’s a fucking sex buffet
Rosie
“Yes girl! Absolute slay, oh my god.” Halle hoots from where she stands, all the way at the entrance, loud enough for everyone on this block to hear. I wave a hand at her to shut her up and she cackles, pulling a lollipop out of her clutch as I quickly make my way over to where she and Jasper loiter outside the entertainment center. The whole venue is dressed up like a celebrity red carpet event. Security, luxury decorations, paparazzi, you name it, they have it. Of course no one is even slightly interested in the junior editors and staff—they wait for the CEOs, the authors, and the guests of honor. I might have also put my name on the guest list as Rosie Antonia so as not to have my photo snapped asThe Garcia Heiress makes grand entrance running up the stairs of the Manhattan Center to lollipop-wielding psycho.I opted for something a little less on the nose.
“I love this color on you!” I coo as I make a twirl gesture to Halle and she gives me a spin. Her red pantsuit is tailored and elegant, the blazer opening low but pinned closed, leavinga deepVthat plunges almost to her navel, but in a classy way. It’s cropped with high-waisted, wide-leg pants that show off her trim waist and give her already long legs even more height. “Stunning!” I whisper-squeal, clapping my hands and beaming up at her as she spins back around to face me. “But a lollipop, really?”
“It was this or a smoke. You know I’m trying to quit.” She pouts and I laugh her off as a throat clears from next to her.
“You, too, Jas, absolute smoke show. Go on then, give me a spin.” Jas is very Harry Styles-esque at these types of events. He has a well-tailored navy suit paired with a light blue designer sweater that shows off his broad shoulders, a white shirt peeking out, with sandal-type loafers and a chain necklace as the final piece. He looks as dapper as always. “New York won’t know what hit them.” Ignoring the incessant buzzing coming from the phone in my clutch, I wave a hand over my shoulder, flicking air instead of hair as my curls have been braided and tamed into an updo with a zigzag part with little curls framing my face. Simple yet elegant, not to take away from the exquisite black number I have hugging my curves. The dress is a form-fitting silhouette with a sweetheart neckline, a corset bodice, and off-the-shoulder, long sleeves made of soft appliqué lace detail for a little touch of refinement. It has a sweeping train of silk and satin with a hip-high split on the left, which is the real kicker, showing off my newest babies: Rene Caovilla,black heels with crystal detailing, making my legs appear to lead straight to the skies.
“You look like the Queen of Sin in this, Rosie. We’ll have to roll Mr. Thirteen’s tongue back into place after he’s done drooling.” Halle spanks me on the ass as we turn and head for the entrance and I giggle at the ridiculous picture she’s painted.
“You’re a pain in the ass, you know that? Plus, I’m sure Caleb will be all over his date.”
“Who’s his date?” Jasper asks.
I give a halfhearted lift of my shoulders. “I don’t know, but I doubt a bachelor like him is coming to this event alone. He’ll have the night’s conquest dolled up, plied with wine, and ready to leave as soon as the awards are done, I’m sure of it.” They both make eyes, but it’s Halle’s uncertain “Mm-hmm”that has me narrowing my eyes at them, but I ignore all the retorts that rise in my throat as we’re ushered inside.
Taking a look at the seating chart, I once again ignore the vibrating phone in my clutch and ignore the little alarm bell ringing in the back of my mind.
IknowI’ve deliberately ignored an order to show up for a Garcia event. I alsoknowthat I don’t give a fuck. And while they are both facts, I also know I’ve never blatantly ignored a direct order from my father that followed a very real threat. So, to say I was silently shitting kittens is a slight understatement. But, I am determined to keep ignoring it all until the absolute last possible second.
“Are you going to get that?” Halle asks, but I ignore her, pointing to Table Seven. All the way at the back.
“Here.” I point to the chart. “Luckily Chris knows what’s good for him and didn’t split us up. Unfortunately, looks like we must somehow stomach our food at the table with Dick-bag Daniel.”
