Page 33 of Worth the Trouble

“Rome Moreno.”

“Oh, I’m aware,” Rico says, and I look up to see him grinning. “But I never thought I’d see the day.”

“What? Meeting a rock star?”

Rico laughs. “No. Seeing Lili Chen with her panties in a twist over a guy who would give her mother a heart attack.”

“I don’t have my panties in a twist,” I huff.

“Sure you don’t.” Rico pats my shoulder. “Keep telling yourself that.”

The night is already dreadful and boring, but Rome’s presence makes it nearly unbearable. He’s everywhere I look with the brunette Jessica Rabbit hanging from his arm. And to make matters worse, it’s obvious I can’t stop staring at him.

Every time Mom catches me glancing in his direction, she makes a comment aboutthe guy who was fixing my stereo. Something Rico finds highly amusing once he hears the story because he knows it’s total bullshit.

My gaze finds Rome once more over Mom’s shoulder, where he’s directly in my line of sight. It’s a spot he has permanently affixed himself this evening. And while he seems to give no thought to the bombshell rubbing herself against him, I don’t like whatever it’s stirring inside me.

My stomach tightens every time he smiles, and it’s bordering on painful.

It’s hunger—that’s all.

It’s the only thing that makes sense.

After all, I skipped dinner for this event and Mom brushes off the food trays every time the waiters circle near us, so it’s the lack of calories getting to me. My stomach twists, and I can’t help but clench Rico’s arm from the sudden sensation.

“You feeling okay?” He dips his mouth near my ear.

Mom smiles proudly at Rico’s closeness, like she’s imagining sweet nothings he’s whispering, when it’s nowhere close to the truth.

I shake it off. “I’m fine, just tired.”

It’s not a lie. I’ve never been a good sleeper, but the stress from the upcoming show paired with a recent cut to my carb intake has made it nearly impossible.

“Actually…” I pat his arm. “I think I’m going to take off.”

“This early?” Mom’s posture straightens, and she frowns at me. “You’ve barely made your rounds.”

“I have. Twice,” I remind her. “It’s getting late, and I need my rest for tomorrow’s practice.”

There—I throw the one excuse at her she won’t argue with. As much as she lives for a party to parade me around at, she’d rather I perform well on stage. Her nod of approval is proof.

“Need me to walk you out?” Rico asks.

“I’ll be fine. Enjoy the rest of your night.” Tipping up on my toes so no one can hear me, I whisper, “Besides, at least one of us needs to enjoy the evening, and the blonde in the yellow dress hasn’t left your line of sight.”

“Oh, I’m aware.” He grins.

I shake my head before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, that he returns.

“Of course you are. See you tomorrow.”

Before Mom can break free from the group’s conversation, I dip away. The last thing I need is a final lecture before bed.

Cutting through the crowd, I smile politely at anyone who glances in my direction but don’t hold any stare too long. The crowd is tipsy this late in the evening, and it’s hard to deal with when I’m sober.

What I wouldn’t give for one drink, especially since I hired a driver this evening to take me home. But there’s no way I felt like hearing Mom lecture me about the calories in alcohol. So I stuck with water.

A woman brings me my coat, and I wrap it around my shoulders before stepping outside. It’s a crisp night for September. Fall is in the air in Denver, and I breathe it in, appreciating the relief I feel in the season’s changing.

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