My phone buzzes the second I'm out of the gate.
Chloe: Emergency meeting. Tomorrow night. 7 pm.
Lily: What's the emergency?
Madison: You. Obviously.
Maya: We need details about Doctor Mansion.
Amber: Please tell me you got his number.
Holly: Better yet, did you get a signed NDA? Because this sounds like it could get SPICY.
I bite my lip, trying not to laugh.
Lily: It's a job. A professional job.
Chloe: Sure, Lil.
Emily: Lily, honey. We love you. But you're terrible at lying.
Lily: I'm not lying!
Madison: Then why are you blushing?
Lily: YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE ME!
Holly: We don't need to. We know you.
I toss my phone into my bag and focus on driving.
But my mind is already racing ahead.
To tomorrow. To the party. To Ethan.
To the way he looked at me when I admitted I liked the book.
Compelling, I'd said.
And God help me, I meant it.
CHAPTER 3
Iwake up at six a.m. with a to-do list longer than my arm and a nervous energy I can't shake.
The party is in four days. Four days to find the perfect gifts, coordinate vendors, and somehow not make a complete fool of myself in front of Ethan Cross.
No pressure.
I grab my laptop and settle onto my couch with a cup of coffee, pulling up my notes from last night. First priority: the gifts.
For Diane, I'm thinking something sentimental. Something that honors her family. I scroll through jewelry websites, searching for inspiration, when an idea strikes.
A family tree necklace. But not just any necklace. A custom piece with birthstones representing everyone she loves.
I find a jeweler in the city who specializes in custom work and send an inquiry. Then I move on to Claire.
First edition books are tricky. They're expensive, rare, and I have no idea where to even start looking.
