Page 39 of Love to Prove You Wrong

“That’ll be eleven thousand dollars and fifty-five cents,” Ray said without blinking.

I almost fainted, feeling even dizzier than before. “Eleven thousand dollars?” I cried out.

“It’s no big deal,” Justin said. “They’re quality and they are comfortable.”

Comfortable? My most comfortable outfit was a unicorn onesie that I’d bought for twenty dollars during a sale. Our worlds were clearly miles apart, maybe even planets apart.

We left the store in silence. I was still too shocked by the amount of money Justin had just forked over to string together a conversation.

“Is everything okay?” he asked as soon as we were in his sexual-tension-filled car again.

I nodded. “Everything’s a-okay.” I gave him a thumbs-up.

“Good. I’m not used to you being this quiet.”

I turned in my seat to face him. “Justin, I’ve got to ask. Are we going to get into a helicopter, or are we having a lobster dinner?”

“I did plan on taking a helicopter to that party I told you about, yes. The lobster dinner? I don’t know. I guess there will be lobster, but I’m not sure. Why?”

My heart did a double take and I pushed the lobster bib deeper into my purse. I was going to fly in a helicopter. A real one, not the ones they have at amusement parks.

“No reason,” I said, beaming. “What kind of party is this anyway? I said yes before you even shared the details.”

He followed the highway signs leading to the airport. “It’s a small get-together with some of my colleagues.”

“Your colleagues. As in,In Dire Needcolleagues?”

He nodded. “That’s right. It’s Alicia’s birthday.”

I gasped. “Alicia Bright is having a birthday party and I’m invited?”

Justin laughed. “Yes. She’s at her house in Boston at the moment. It’s only a couple of hours by helicopter. You’re not going to act all funny around these people, are you? Or steal their snacks?”

His expression had gone from amused to concerned.

I shook my head. “No, no, no. I’m going to act absolutely normal and I’ll only eat what is served. I won’t rummage through their cabinets.”

Granted, my current behavior didn’t bode well for Justin, but come on. I was going to Alicia Bright’s birthday party. In a helicopter! If I didn’t know any better, I’d think Ray had drugged me with that glass of champagne.

I got my phone out and texted Suzie to tell her that I wasn’t going to attend a lobster dinner after all, but a celebrity birthday party. Not to mention going on an actual helicopter ride.

She immediately texted me back. “WHAT?! IS THIS A JOKE, ADDY?”

I assured her it wasn’t a joke, and I’d send pictures later. Then I made a quick call to Carter. I needed to know if he had everything under control at the inn, or I wouldn’t be able to enjoy myself, no matter how over the top this evening was going to be. Thankfully, everything was okay at the inn.

When Justin stopped the car at the airport, I couldn’t believe my eyes. A shiny black helicopter towered before us, the blades whizzing away.

Some guy in a suit approached us and held the car door open.

“Are you ready for this?” Justin asked with a grin.

“You bet I am,” I said.

We got out of the car and walked toward the helicopter, me with a spring in my step. This was going to be such a fun ride.

Chapter Fourteen

The Maine landscape fell away behind us as we set a course for Boston for Alicia’s birthday party. I had to pinch myself a couple of times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

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