“Aww, you guys look amazing!”
“Don’t you think that dress is a bit revealing?” Caleb demanded as Alice glared back at him.
“I’mseventeen, dickwad. That shit doesn’t wash with me—I’ll wear whatever I damn like.”
Caleb bristled as I grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly.
Not tonight.
He sighed as he moved past Alice, who simply smirked at him.
“I got the last word. Boy, you’re whipped.”
“Alice,” I warned my eyebrows raised as I looked at her. “Don’t. He’s your brother.”
Alice shrugged, throwing her hair over her shoulder. “Whatever. Let’s go already.”
She strode down the hallway—I have no idea how she did it so quickly, considering her heels were a thousand times taller than mine—and descended the grand staircase.
I say grand, but that’s probably an understatement.
Caleb’s grandad was a star of the silver screen and had plenty of money to prove it. He drove the flashiest car, wore the most dapper suits, and threw the most lavish parties. That night was no exception.
Nerves fluttered in my stomach as I took in the crowd of guests at the bottom of the staircase, their eyes suddenly on the three of us.
Alice threw her head back in true Fallon style as she beamed, gliding down the steps.
I gripped Caleb’s hand, his green eyes turning to gaze at me.
“Youare the most beautiful woman in this room. Don’t be nervous,” he murmured, kissing my hand as a spark of electricity racing through my body. I shivered, holding onto the smooth polished rail, which was wider than my hand—meaning my fingers danced along with it as we descended. My heels clicked on the marble steps as I walked. I had visions of me tumbling down and cracking my head at the bottom, people looking on at me in pity.
Then I blinked, realizing the man beside me would always be there to catch me. Immediately we were surrounded by people I’d never seen before, men clapping Caleb on the back as they gave me approving looks, while the women simply gave me the cold shoulder. I was used to that, though, however much it annoyed me.
“This is Jade, my beautiful girlfriend,” I heard Caleb say as a striking older man with dark eyes kissed my hand softly.
“Pleasure. You are quite the beauty, if I may be so bold.”
I smiled in return as my eyes scanned the room for a familiar face. The crowd swallowed Alice up until I located her standing with a group of young men who were hanging on her every word. I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I turned to see Cal and Gretchen grinning at us. Gretchen looked breathtaking. A classic high necked navy dress sat beautifully on her curves, her lustrous hair gleaming as she reached out to hug me.
“Jade, you are a vision.Wow.”
Cal nodded in agreement before his eyes narrowed. I knew immediately he had spotted Alice when he excused himself. Gretchen sighed as she watched him leave, twisting her wedding ring nervously.
“I’m tired of the overprotective dad scene,” she groaned.
Caleb turned to us, his hand slipping around my waist as he handed me a glass of champagne. “Yet it’s necessary. She’s a fucking nightmare.”
“Caleb. Please,” Gretchen pleaded. “You look dashing, my boy, very handsome.”
I admired her attempt to change the subject, grinning as I sipped my drink. I wasn’t a champagne drinker at all, and Caleb held back a laugh as I grimaced.
“I will never like that stuff. Give me vodka any day.”
“A classy bird like you doesn’t likechampagne? Someone get the woman a beer.”
I heard a voice say to my left as I turned to see Gabe grinning at me with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Gabe!” I yelped, and he laughed, his arms wrapping around me as he nodded at Caleb.
