Page 41 of Love to Prove You Wrong

I felt my cheeks burn and turned my head to look out of the window. “Duh, drink them. Share them with friends. Like I said, I don’t know.”

“Hey, don’t be mad,” he said, his voice softer than before. “I appreciate you putting in your two cents. We could stop and get her a bottle of champagne if that would make you happy.”

I uncrossed my arms and sighed. “That’s okay. I think I’m nervous. I want to make a good impression.”

He threw me a warm smile. “You’ll make a great impression.”

“Thanks.”

The taxi pulled into a broad driveway, and Alicia’s enormous house came into view. I expected her to live in some fancy villa, but I hadn’t imagined something this huge.

“Sweet mother of cookie dough,” I said, pushing my face against the car window to get an even better view and soak up every detail.

My own house could fit into hers twenty times over and then some. The driveway was filled with shiny, expensive cars, and the path leading to the front door was adorned with gold and pink balloon arrangements.

Justin thanked our driver, then hurried around the car to open my door. With every step we took toward the house, the music and laughter coming from inside grew louder, and so did the nervous beating of my heart. Didn’t Justin say this was going to be a small birthday party? It sure didn’t sound like it.

The door swung open before Justin could even lift his finger off the doorbell. Standing before us was Alicia Bright, in the flesh. Or, well, in a bohemian dress that looked more like a large fitted shirt. The garment barely reached to her thighs. On me it would’ve looked ridiculous, but it looked gorgeous on her. Leather sandals with straps made of colorful beads wrapped all around her ankles.

A big smile spread across her face and she pulled Justin in for a hug. “Jussie! You made it!”

Jussie?I had to stifle a laugh.

“And who is this pretty girl?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with delight.

He smiled at me. “This is Addy. We’ve known each other for years.”

She hugged me with the same beaming smile she had given Justin. “Welcome, Addy.”

“I hope you don’t mind me bringing someone along,” Justin said.

Alicia waved his remark away. “Nonsense, Addy is more than welcome here. I think it’s great you finally brought a date to one of my parties. Now, come on, don’t just stand there on the doorstep. The party’s this way.”

We followed her inside. Justin didn’t even try to correct her when she said I was his date. Did that mean this was indeed a date? I thought it was me doing him a favor, because he didn’t want to go alone. I stole a glance at him, but nothing gave away that he was freaked out about this being a date.

I decided to concentrate on other things, like— Oh, tiny appetizers. A waiter carrying a tray of shrimp and mango sauce offered me one, and I gladly accepted. I hadn’t eaten anything for hours.

Justin weaved through the crowd, until we got to the bar that was set up on the patio. Pink inflatable flamingos and a bunch of imported palm trees gave the backyard a tropical feel. I could get used to parties like these.

“Miller, you’re here,” someone with a familiar voice said.

I turned around and had to do my best to contain myself. Russell Grey, Oscar nominated actor, fist-bumped Justin. Then he extended his hand to shake mine.

“Nice to meet you, sir,” I said.

Russell laughed. “Sir? Please, call me Russell.”

I almost asked him for a selfie with me. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I held it together and swallowed them back down. I didn’t want to be known as a star-crazed girl, and I was positive everyone here was glad to get away from the attention for once.

“How do you and Justin know each other?” he asked, popping an olive in his mouth.

“We grew up in the same town,” Justin said. “She pretends to hate me, but she’s nuts about me. Actually, she’s also nuts about nuts.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Kermit,” I said, then turned to Russell. “This one made sure my high school years were quite hellish. He went out of his way to make fun of me every chance he got.”

Justin crossed his arms. “Did not.”

I turned back to Russell. “He did. Also, I’m hardly nuts aboutJussieover here. I tolerate him.”

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