Page 32 of Rockstar Next Door Neighbor

I take the dress. It’s gorgeous, but the idea of wearing it—ofowninga dress like this—makes my stomach twist. I glance nervously at Emily. “I don’t know...”

“Lila, just try it on,” she says, giving me a gentle nudge toward the fitting room.

I step into the dress, the fabric cool and smooth against my skin. When I catch sight of myself in the mirror, I barely recognize the woman staring back at me.

“Holy shit,” Emily breathes as I emerge.

“Wow,” Kendrick says, her eyes widening as she takes me in. “Lila, you look incredible.”

The gown hugs every curve without being tight. The color makes my skin glow, and my eyes look more green than hazel. The sweetheart neckline shows just enough cleavage to be sexy but still elegant.

“This is probably way too expensive,” I smooth my hands over the silk.

“It’s perfect is what it is,” Emily declares. “We’ll take it.”

“Emily—“

“Nope. Not hearing it. You look amazing, and if certain people’s jaws don’t hit the floor when they see you in this, I’ll eat my designer clutch.”

I blush, knowing exactly which ‘certain people’ she means.

“Your turn,” I say quickly, turning to her and Kendrick and changing the subject.

Emily tries on several dresses before finding ‘the one’—a sapphire blue goddess gown that makes her look like she just stepped off a red carpet.

“Blue’s always been my favorite,” she says, twirling in front of the mirror. “Makes me feel like myself.”

“It’s stunning,” I agree. “Sam won’t know what hit him.”

She grins. “That’s the idea.”

Kendrick’s willowy figure looks great in whatever she tries on, but when she steps out in a black gown with a high slit up the side, we’re all in agreement that it’s the perfect gown for her.

Kendrick grins. “Yes, I’ll take it.” As the sales clerk walks away, Kendrick’s grin spreads wider. “Ladies, we need shoes!”

Two hours later, we collapsed at a café with numerous shopping bags at our feet.

“Thank you,” I say softly, looking at both of them. “Not just for the dress, but for... including me in all this.”

Emily reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “Thank you for coming. These events can be dull, with lotsof fake smiles and politics. It’s nice having someone real there. Right, Kendrick?”

“Absolutely,” Kendrick nods in agreement, giving me a warm smile.

I think about Luke, Crystal, and her father and all the complications I don’t understand about his life.

“How do you guys deal with it?” I ask. “The spotlight, the expectations?”

Both are quiet for a moment. It’s Kendrick who answers softly, “You find your truth and hold onto it. The rest is just noise.”

“And if you’re not sure what your truth is?”

Emily leans forward this time, her eyes knowing. “Then you wait until you are, Lila. The right path usually becomes clear, even if it’s not the easy one.”

I nod, thinking about green silk and light blue eyes and all the complicated feelings tangled up between them.

“Now,” Emily says brightly, “let’s talk about hair and makeup. We know this amazing stylist...”

The ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton sparkles like something out of a fairy tale. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light over everything, making even the champagne bubbles seem to glitter. Emily wasn’t kidding about the glamour—I’ve never seen so many designer dresses and diamond necklaces in one place. I’m glad I’m walking in with Sam and Emily.

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