Page 11 of Love to Prove You Wrong

I laughed. “Subtle? You asked Alex to talk to her.”

“Yeah, you’re right. We’re both chicken shits.”

I rolled my shoulders back and forth to relieve some of the tension that had been building up in them. Between Diane’s demands and Justin’s silly comments, I’d had enough for one day. “What do you say? Shall we get out of here and grab a drink?”

“For sure,” Suzie said. “Let me go talk to Alex for a sec and I’ll meet you out front.”

I put my coat on and strolled outside. Justin was standing near the wall next to the stairs, his hands in his pockets. We hadn’t made eye contact yet, which meant I could duck back inside without him seeing me, if I was quick.

“Couldn’t miss me for more than a few minutes, could you?” he asked, still looking out at the street.

How did he even know it was me?

I rolled my eyes in a futile attempt to let him know how annoyed I was. “You have eyes on the side of your body now?”

He turned his head in my direction and grinned. “Maybe. So, when are we meeting up to discuss our tasks for the Spring Picnic?”

“I can’t right now. I have plans.”

He cocked an eyebrow. His face twisted into a smirk waiting to break free. “Who said anything about right now? How about tomorrow?”

I threw my hands in the air. There was no escaping Justin, that much was clear. “Sure. The faster we get this over with, the better. Meet me at my house in the morning. Nine o’clock sharp.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, with a Southern accent he most likely learned from one of those fancy dialect coaches. Then he saluted me like I was a military sergeant.

I wanted to throw him a death stare, but for some inexplicable reason, a laugh came bubbling to the surface instead.

Justin pushed away from the wall, inching closer. “That smile right there is exactly what I’ve been waiting for.”

He now stood close enough for me to notice the subtle scent of his laundry detergent.Or for me to kiss him.I let out a puff of air. Where did that thought come from? As if I’d ever kiss him.

“Me laughing at your impressions doesn’t mean I like you now,” I said before he could get any ideas into that annoyingly stunning head of his.

“I’ll get you there,” he said before walking down the stairs.

“Don’t be late tomorrow. I only have one hour to talk to you,” I called after him.

He turned around, the dimples in his cheeks deepening. “Give me some credit, Addy. I know you don’t want to, but I promise you it’ll be worth it.”

Chapter Four

“You’re early,” I said as I swung the front door open.

Justin looked at me with a surprised look on his face. I couldn’t blame him, though. He had probably tried his very best to be on time and there I was, acting all catty. But it was true. He had showed up early and I was still wearing my faded Mickey Mouse pajamas. Plus, strands of my hair were sticking out of my messy bun. It wasn’t exactly the image I wanted to convey. I should’ve gone home sooner the night before, but Suzie and I were having so much fun that I didn’t want to leave.

“I am. Better early than late, right? Are you going to let me in, or should I wait outside for half an hour?” he asked, amusement written all over his face.

I opened the door further so he could step inside. “Come in.”

He squeezed past me. “Nice outfit,” he said, giving me the once-over.

“That’s what you get for being early. I haven’t showered yet.”

“Go ahead,” he said. “I’ll wait.”

I assessed the state of my living room. Was I really going to leave him alone in here? Not that there was anything suspicious lying around, but it was Justin. He would probably be able to magically make a pair of panties or something equally embarrassing appear from beneath my sofa cushions.

“Don’t give me that look,” he said with a smile.

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