Page 97 of Secret Love

There are messages from the guys when I’m heading home, all wanting to know how it went. They’re the best, ready to celebrate Tru and me being official like we’re all in high school.

I’m here for it…when it actually happens.

But on a whim, I message back.

It didn't happen. Bree is engaged. I felt like that news held precedence. But I still feel like a party. Want to come over? Bring whoever you want…dates, kids, all the people. I'm going to see if Tru and her mom can come over. I need a distraction tonight. It's been a great day. And I want to end on a high note.

Rhodes

Henley making a plan after eight o’clock…count us in. Levi and I will be there shortly. We won’t stay long since he’ll be crashing soon, but we’ll come say hey. Maybe Elle too. She said she was heading out soon, but she might be up for seeing Tru, her new BFF. Just no pics.

Elle is a Mustangs cheerleader now, so she’s not really supposed to be around us, but we’re being discreet for her. She’s our friend, but she’s not going out with us in public anymore to ensure she keeps her job. We miss her, but it’s exciting that she’ll be out there this season.

Bowie

Becca and I will be there too.

Penn

I'm with Sam right now. Is it okay if I bring him over?

Of course. I can't wait to see the guy. It's been too long.

Weston

Sadie says she's in. And Caleb's probably good for a little while, or I might call and see if my mom would want to watch him. But if she hears it's at your house and that Stephanie’s coming, she might want to come too.

Everybody's welcome. We could put Caleb in the portable bed if you want to spend the night. Invite your parents. Come on.

Weston

Okay, it's a party!

I get home and order a bunch of pizzas in case anyone hasn’t eaten, and they start arriving at the same time as everyone else does. I let Tru know that the conversation with the girls won’t be happening tonight after all, and she agreed it was best to let the girls digest the news about Bree and Alex first. Tru and her mom haven’t gotten here yet and Weston and Sadie are going to be a bit late. Sadie’s parents called right after Weston was talking to me and they’re going to watch Caleb.

Levi is in rare form tonight. I think Rhodes imagined him falling asleep on the way or soon after he got here, but he iswound up. The little guy is one of the cutest kids I’ve ever seen. His curls are amazing, and his eyes are the color of amber, and they’re always smiling like he’s thinking about the punchline. He starts dancing when I turn on the music.

“SexyBack” by Justin Timberlake comes on. Rhodes lifts his eyebrows.

“You been holdin’ out on me? I didn't take you for a Justin fan. I thought we were all about Britney.”

“I didn't know it was on here,” I admit. “But hey,” I point at him, “get your sexy on.”

He laughs and starts swiveling his hips back at Levi, who throws his head back and laughs as he tries to do the same moves.

“Go ‘head, be gone with it,” Rhodes sings.

And that starts a whole chorus of us dancing our asses off and singing at the top of our lungs. Penn slides across the floorin his socks, taking the lead. And I cover all the background vocals. Rhodes, for all his Justin judgment, and I know there are reasons—Tru’s told me all about the Britney memoir—he also happens to know every word.

I’m sore from practice today, but it feels damn good to let loose with my boys. We finish the song and high-five each other.

And then I hear the laughing.

Tru and her mom are standing there, laughing with tears rolling down their cheeks. Tru can't even get words out without laughing.

“That…was…” she starts and then cackles again.

Stephanie holds her hand to her chest, wheezing with laughter. “I have never seen anything like that,” she says, “but oh, wow, life made.”

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