Page 76 of The Pucker and the Princess
Gabby parks the car, and we all climb out, pausing for a second to take in the impressive white house with its columns and grand entry, tasteful landscaping that doesn’t need large amounts of water to maintain, and flood lights casting a glow all around the house and grounds.
Jonathan lets out a low whistle. “This is pretty fancy for an engagement party. Are you sure they aren’t getting married tonight?”
Those words hit me like a punch to the gut. Wouldn’t that be the worst? What if it were some kind of bait and switch? Would Mom do that to me if she knew?
Swallowing the bile rising in my throat, I shake my head. “Her family must be the type that wants this.” My voice sounds hoarse, and I clear my throat, ignoring the concerned look Gabby exchanges with Jonathan and then turns on me.
“We can fake the emergency now,” she offers. “I still think it’s shit that Mom and Dad are making you do this. You haven’t had your appendix out, right? You could say you think you have appendicitis.”
I arch an eyebrow at her. “And just go home? Or are you planning to take me to the ER for them to run tests we know are bogus?”
She shrugs, unconcerned. “Well, we’d for suregoto the ER. But just to say we did. Then we can say they said you were fine and sent you home.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “Keep coming up with ideas. For now, though, we should probably go inside. I’m pretty sure Mom’s texting me to see what’s taking us so long.”
But when I glance at my phone, it’s not my mom. It’s Dozer.
Dozer
Call me please. Right away.
Panic seizes me, my already frayed nerves on high alert and immediately making me think the worst. Holding up a finger, I quickly hit Dozer’s name and press the phone to my ear.
“Maybe she’ll have her own emergency that we don’t have to make up,” Gabby murmurs, and if anything, that just drives my panic higher.
Every ring of the phone feels like an eternity, but Dozer finally answers on the third ring. “Dozer?” I say almost before he says anything. “What’s going on? Are you okay? Are you hurt? What happened?”
“Whoa, whoa. I’m fine. Everything’s fine,” he says in a soothing voice.
I swallow down my panic, sucking in deep breaths, my brow furrowing as I try to make sense of what’s going on. “You texted to call you right away. Why would?—”
His low groan cuts me off. “I’m sorry. God, I’m an idiot. Of course you thought something terrible is happening. No, it’s just, I uh …”
In the gulf of hesitation, I want to scream, “Spit it out!” but I reel myself in and try to wait.
“I just, well, are you at the engagement party?”
“Uh, yeah? I mean, we just parked but we’re about to walk in. Why?” My voice drips with suspicion.
“How serious were you when you said that you wished I could be there.”
An unhinged laugh leaps out of me. “What? I mean, you’d make a great shield to be honest. But I could never?—”
“What’s the address?”
“Uh, it’s at the Gardiner Mansion in Plano. I’m not sure the exact address, but if you search it on a map, it’ll come up.”
“Perfect. Thank you. I’ll be there in … well, I’ll be there. See you soon.”
“Wait, what? Dozer?”
But he’s gone, the call ended, and I’m not quite sure what just happened.
“Who was that?” Gabby asks. “Is everything okay?”
“Uh, yes? I think. I mean, yeah, everything is fine.”
She lets out a relieved breath, and Jonathan gives me an encouraging smile. “Good. Whew. I was a little worried when you suddenly stopped and made a phone call like that. You looked like you’d just gotten news that your house was on fire or something.”
