Page 46 of Isabelle and the Beast

“What? You can’t leave me hanging like that.”

She pauses. “Something about the way you’re talking about Adam makes me think… I have a feeling you’ll be coming home with a new friend.”

“Okay,” I say, drawing out the word. Yeah, I could see that. “I guess we’re kind of friends now.”

“Mm-hmm,” she muses. “And is that all?”

“What do you mean?”

She groans. “Come ON, Izzy!” Her voice rings through theroom, still on speaker. “It’s Adam Freaking Stone! You’ve dragged me to every one of his movies for the last five years. And now you’re stuck in this castle with him, fighting and playing in the snow and I’m sure the tension is building and building—you’re going to kiss him, I just know it!”

“Jen! There’s no way I’m kissing Adam Stone!”

“You know you want to.”

“Oh, my lord.” I rub my forehead with my hand. “A kiss has to be two-sided, you know.”

“And with your gorgeous looks and amazing personality, I’m sure there’s a mutual attraction going on.”

I blow through my lips. “You’ve known me for fifteen years. There’s no ‘gorgeous looks’ going on here, just an awkward, average looking, movie and musical obsessed nerd with two model sisters. If anyone’s kissing Adam Stone, it’s one of them.”

“Your shallow, self-obsessed, narcissist sisters? Yeah, no. Anyone who’s been around your family knows you’re the catch. Not them.”

“Well, thanks.” This conversation, once again, reminds me why Jen is my best friend. We went through the awkward middle school years together, and she helped me find my own strengths in high school, taking me out from the shadow of my sisters. When I told her I wanted to pursue acting, she cheered and has been there to support me every step of the way.

“Any time.” I hear her fingers clicking on her keyboard. “Hmm, it doesn’t look like he’s dated much recently. I can do some more research and find out if you’re his type.”

“Don’t use your illegal tech skills for this!”

“Who says it’s illegal? I mean…fine, whatever. Just go make out with Adam and tell me how it is.”

I gasp. “You’re impossible.”

“Isabelle?” Adam’s voice sounds through my doorway. “Are you ready?”

“IS THAT HIM?” Jen calls, her voice still on speakerphone. “HE SOUNDS SO HOT!”

I immediately hang up the phone, not even bothering to say goodbye. She’s going to pay for that later. “Heyyy, Adam.”

His head pokes around the open door. Why did I leave my door open? And why isn’t he just waiting in the study for me? “All ready?”

“Almost. You, uh, didn’t hear any of that, did you?”

He blinks, impassive. “Hear what?”

Oh, thank goodness. “Nothing.” I paste a big smile on my face. “Let me freshen up and I’ll meet you in the study?”

“Sounds good.” He turns and leaves, and I fall backward on my bed, praying Adam didn’t hear me talking to Jen about kissing him.

Chapter

Twenty-One

ADAM

Ioverheard Isabelle’s phone conversation.

I don’t feel good about it.

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