Alan’s smile widens.“And you look sexy as hell.”His hand lifts to my cheek, his gaze flicking to my lips.Uh oh.Is he gonna kiss me?
“Hey, we’ll be late if we don’t get inside,” Jessy calls from the driver’s seat, twisting around with a grin.
Alan groans, clearly annoyed.“Oh, right.I forgot you were coming too.”
25
Birthday Bash
Fenella
“I’m just doing my job as your assistant and personal driver till we get back to New York.You can call John if you’d rather have him,” Jessy says.
“Yeah, yeah.As if he’s here.”Alan sighs and rolls his eyes.“Come on, dear, let’s go inside.”
He steps out of the car and circles around to open my door.I squeeze Jessy’s arm.“Has Laird contacted you?”
“He’s parked in front of the house,” Jessy says.
“Good.”
Before I can breathe out in relief, Alan opens the door on my side.I get out with a polite smile.He lifts his arm for me to hold, and we head toward the main entrance, Jessy trailing behind.
The moment we step inside, white marble floors stretch beneath our feet.Crystal chandeliers shimmer from the high ceiling, their light spilling over the grand staircase.Everything glitters, too perfect to be real.
Alan leads us deeper into the house, turning left down a hallway that opens into a wide garden.Pink and white flowers wrap around the decorations, tables dressed in white cloths, chairs tied with pastel ribbons.It looks like a wedding reception straight out of a reality TV show.Except this isn’t a wedding.It’s Amy’s twenty-sixth birthday party.
“There she is.That’s Amy,” Alan says, pointing.
My stomach tightens.My eyes widen as I spot her from behind.The sound around me fades for a second.Amy Schmidt—no, Amy Morgan—after seven years.
My breath catches.The last time I saw her was prom night.I thought I’d never have to deal with her again.Yet here she is, turning toward me with that same too-bright smile that once haunted my dreams.
She sees me.
My body trembles before I can stop it.My heart stutters as she walks closer, every step pulling me back to the past.
Her hair’s copper now, shoulder-length, styled in glossy, dramatic waves.She wears a tight long-sleeved white gown, plunging neckline, sheer fabric down to her stomach.Heavy makeup, crimson lips, always over the top, always perfect.
For a moment, I’m seventeen again, hearing her insults in the infirmary, watching her smirk while she made my life hell.I don’t want to let her crawl back into my head, but my chest still aches when those eyes narrow with that same mocking look.
And now she’s doing it again.Standing right in front of me, eyes squinted, sizing me up.She’s not taller than me, but somehow, she still manages to look down on me.
Alan’s hand tightens around mine, pulling me back.I glance at him.He gives me a reassuring nod and a calm smile.
“Well, well, well.Look who’s here,” Amy says.Her tone’s low, smooth, sharp enough to cut glass.“What a surprise.”
“Hey, Amy.You know her, don’t you?”Alan smiles easily.
“I might,” she says with mock curiosity.“Is she Fenella Baxter?”Her eyes drag over me like she’s checking for flaws.
“Yes, she is,” Alan says.He straightens up, chin slightly raised, a proud glint in his eyes.Watching him stand tall in front of her gives me a spark of courage.I lift my chin too, meeting Amy’s stare head-on.
“Hello, Amy.Guess I’m cursed to see you again,” I say, the sarcasm slipping out before I can stop it.
“Everyone makes the same stupid mistake twice.”Amy smirks, taking a slow sip of her champagne.“So, how do you like my well-trained pet?”
“Amy, we agreed to play nice today,” Alan grunts.
