Page 59 of Sweet Escape at Bayside
Emery grinned. “Yes! In fact, Justin, you should come to our party next weekend. It’s a welcome-home party for Des, Rick, and Harper, and a—”
“Harper?” Andre asked.
“She’s a fictional blonde they wave in front of single guys to get them to stick around,” Gavin said with a smirk. “I don’t believe she really exists.”
“Shedoes, and she’ll knock your socks off,” Chloe said.
“You mean Harper Garner?” Justin asked.
“Yes!” the girls all said at once.
“Dude, she’s real, and she’s hot,” Justin said.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Gavin said. “You’ve got to come, Justin. I might need a wingman, and all the guys around here are tootakento do a good job of it.” He lowered his voice and said, “But I’m still not banking on there being a realHarper.”
“Oh, shut up,” Emery said. “Harper is hot, smart, and isn’t here because she’s working on amovieshewrote. The party is also going to be a send-off for Andre.”
A pang pierced Violet’s chest at the thought of leaving Desiree if they followed Andre’s plans.
Justin glanced at Violet with a confused expression, and Andre held her a little tighter with a hopeful look in his eyes. Did he think she was going to tell everyone she might be going with him right this second? She hadn’t even talked with Desiree yet. She forced herself to say, “Good idea. You should come, Justin.”
Emery filled him in on the details.
“I’ve got to run.” Drake gave Serena a quick kiss and said, “Babe, don’t forget Hagen’s spending the night tonight.” He looked at the others and said, “We’re practicing.”
Serena choked on her food. “We arenotpracticing.”
“Yeah, we are,” Drake said as he walked out the door, sparking more laughter and snarky comments.
“Thanks for coming last night,” Justin said to Violet and Andre.
“Last night?” Emery asked. “Where’d you guys go last night?”
“The suicide-awareness rally in Harwich,” Justin said before Violet could respond.
“Lots of bikers,” Violet said. “Not really your scene.”
Daphne’s jaw dropped. “Hot bikers and you didn’t invite us? I see there’s no love for the single ladies over here.Sheesh.”
“You have a baby. You don’t need a biker,” Chloe said, popping a piece of a muffin into her mouth. “You need someone like Gavin, or Dean’s brother Jett. He’s hot.”
“Hey,” Gavin interjected. “I’m sitting right here, thank you very much. I’m hotter than Jett.”
“Keep your pants on. You’re not banging Daphne,” Violet said with a glare.
“Chloe, have you ever seen a big, protective biker holding a baby?” Daphne looked up at the ceiling with a dreamy expression.
“Justin’s a biker,” Serena pointed out.
Violet leaned down and whispered in Andre’s ear, “Remind me again why I’d miss them.”
Chapter Sixteen
AFTER VOLUNTEERING AT the hospital Friday afternoon, Violet stopped by Justin’s studio to check on the sculpture. Justin was getting ready to leave the studio when she arrived. He was covered in stone dust.
She tossed her keys on the table and said, “Hey. You and your goodies were a big hit this morning.”
“That was an interesting breakfast. Is it like that every day?”
