Page 85 of Meet Dare

“You don’t know my sister. She probably already booked a hotel for a week to avoid us,” Elizabeth says.

“Don’t worry. I canceled her reservation,” Lilac announces.

“You what?” Did I screech? I may have.

“It seemed the best course of action.”

“You better teach me how to hack or I’ll never forgive you.”

Gabrielle nudges Lilac. “You should do it. Cassandra holds a mean grudge.”

I can’t deny it. I am the queen of holding a grudge. Or should I say princess? I rub my chest when an ache builds in it. No, I’m no one’s princess. Not anymore.

“I’m not going anywhere as long as Ashlyn’s allowed inside,” Aspen declares.

“I thought there would be snacks and drinks,” Ellery says.

“And a movie,” Juniper adds.

“This is not a party!” I scream loud enough for the entire town to hear.

“It kind of is,” Ashlyn disagrees. “It’s a ‘you’re heartbroken and we’re going to cheer you up’-party.”

“The name’s too long,” Ellery says from where she’s now standing inside my office with Aspen and Juniper.

I glare at Elizabeth. “Pinky promise, my ass.”

Her eyes widen before she begins pushing the sisters out of the door. She’s never going to kick them out now. I march toward them. I got this.

Lilac shackles my wrist to stop me. “I have a suggestion.”

Ashlyn crosses her fingers. “Please involve cake. Please involve cake.”

“I vote for booze,” Juniper hollers.

“Not all of us can drink,” Aspen pouts as she glances down at her baby bump.

“Can my sisters please be quiet for a moment?” Lilac asks but doesn’t wait for their response before continuing. “All the West sisters will vacate the premises.”

“But Cassie’s my sister. I have two connections. First—”

Lilac doesn’t wait for Ashlyn to finish her explanation before forcing her toward the door. Ashlyn fights her but Lilac’s determined. She herds all of her sisters out of the doorway and down the hallway. There’s a chance I’m crushing on my boyfriend’s fiancée right now.

Elizabeth slams the door behind them. “Good. Now, we can get down to the nitty-gritty.”

“Are you okay? What can we do to help?” Gabrielle asks.

“Okay?” I rear back. “Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

She reaches for my hands but I stuff them in my pockets. “Because you broke up with the man you love.”

“I don’t love Cedar,” I lie.

Elizabeth snorts. “Can we skip the lies? And jump straight to the healing portion of the evening?”

“I’m not lying. I don’t love Cedar.”

“I guess we can’t.” She pokes my stomach. “You, Cassandra Claire Dempsey, are in love with Cedar Archer Hansley. Do you deny the charges?”

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