Page 178 of Dare To Live

“We’re actually on our way out to meet friends for dinner.” Arabella steps up beside me. “How about at lunch tomorrow?”

Linda sighs. “We’re going to be working on making sure everything is ready for the prom. With Lacy leaving, it’s left us short.” She brightens, a smile stretching her lips. “Oh, you could come and help!”

“I don’t—”

“We’ll call for you at ten, and you can come down to the ballroom with us.” Linda doesn’t give her a chance to refuse. “I’ll see you then.” She turns and walks away.

Arabella looks at me. “What just happened?”

I shrug, laughing. “Looks like you’re hanging out with the cool kids tomorrow.”

***

Miles, Ivan and Garrett are already at the restaurant when we arrive, and a maître de escorts us to the table. I hold out a seat for Arabella and then take the one beside her.

“Can we get a bottle of red, please?” I ask, before he walks away. “And water for me.”

“Water?” Arabella repeats.

“I’m driving, but that’s no reason for you not to enjoy yourself.” I touch her lips with one finger. “Just don’t get drunk.”

“What are your plans when you leave here?” Ivan asks me.

“I don’t have anything set in stone right now.”

“I’d like to arrange something for one of my art galleries in L.A. Do you have anything that hasn’t been displayed yet?”

“Something new, you mean? I’m working on a series of paintings at the moment, but they’re not finished yet. Maybe in a couple of months.”

“I’d really like to get something exclusive with you.”

“Ivan, do we have to talk business tonight?” Miles cuts in. “Apart from the prom, this is the last time we’ll be together for a while.” His eyes cut to Arabella. “Unless …” His eyebrow lifts.

She glares at him.

“Unless what?” My eyes move from her to Miles.

“I wasn’t sure if the two of you have arranged anything, that’s all.”

“We haven’t.” Her voice is sharp.

“So you’re not going to meet up once this week is over?”

“It’s not something we’ve discussed,” I say.

“Eli has his art, and I need to spend time finding a new job. We don’t have time to meet up.”

“We could—”

“And anyway, being here at the school, it’s like going back in time. It’s not real,” she continues over the top of me.

“I think—”

“Oh, good! The wine is here.” She cuts in again, and almost knocks the bottle from the server’s hand in her rush to lift her glass.

Chapter 101

Arabella

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