Gabriella licked her finger, innocence plastered across her face. “I wouldn’t do something like that.” Gabriella’s eyes narrowed.
In the background, a line dance began. Boots pounding against the hardwood floor mimicked a battle drum calling troops to take sides. The small group around them grew bigger.
Gabriella flicked her gaze over Alice and sneered. “I’d never disrupt such a quaintbarnparty.” She grabbed the end of the tablecloth and yanked, sending plastic forks, cups, and plates scattering across the floor.
Those close enough to see what happened gasped.
“That’s enough! I’m calling security.” Alice retrieved her phone from her back pocket.
“Go ahead. I’d love to tell them how this old bag not only ruined my shirt but took out half the table.” Gabriella shoved out her ample chest. “It’s your word against mine.”
Filled with righteous indignation, Alice gestured to the people watching. “Ourword against yours.”
“Who do you think the public will believe? A few crazy wannabe hicks in plaid?” Her lip pouted out. “Or a picked-on actress who was trying to get away from the pressures of filming and was attacked by fans?”
Alice hesitated. After seeing the damage Gabriella had done to Russ’s reputation with one article, she had no doubts about Gabriella’s ability to spin a story her way. Heat flooded her face and burned her ears. She wasn’t the one to cause a scene or even participate in one. Not quiet little Alice. Yet she’d been thrust into the center of this drama and she didn’t know her lines.
She searched for some leverage and found Karleigh pointing a cell phone in their direction. Grandma nodded encouragingly. Jenny from Threads & Hems was there, glaring at Gabriella, along with Anthony and the kids from the study group. Alice straightened. She was not the lost little girl anymore struggling to find her place in Harvest Ranch, and she wasn’t alone.
“I may be nothing to the world, Gabriella. But I’ll bet the world would love to see their precious darling throw a tantrum.” She pointed to her right, and Gabriella turned.
“Gabriella Green, everyone!” said Karleigh. “Wave to YouTube, Gabriella.”
“No,” Gabriella whispered as she pressed herself into Russ’s chest, burying her face in her hands. “Get me out of here.”
Russ’s eyes never left Alice, and his hands stayed far away from Gabriella.
Alice held her breath. She wouldn’t beg, not even with her eyes. She would not be her mother, would not be the woman scorned. But if Russ left without knowing how she really felt for him, it would be over between them. Scratch that—if he left with her at all, it was over between them. There was no going back from siding with an ice queen. He’d choose his fate, his life, his path, and by leaving with Gabriella, he’d clarify that there was no place for Alice in his future.
The moment was his.
He placed his arms on Gabriella’s shoulders and pushed her away. “I’m staying. I love this town. I love the people. And you should be ashamed of yourself for treating Mrs. Westbrook like she’s less than you. I think you should leave—go.” He took a step to the side and then laced his fingers through Alice’s, their palms touching and heat firing though her arm. “This is where I belong.”
Alice felt her face split into a smile that was almost painful, it was so big.
Gabriella’s face turned purple. “I’ll ruin you, Russ Phillips. You have no idea what you’ve done.”
Alice felt her chest expand; the lioness inside roared because one of her pride was threatened. “If you dare, I’ll have that video trending within five minutes.” She gestured to where Karleigh stood with her camera phone recording away.
Karleigh waved. “I especially liked the part where you said old people should be locked up because they were a danger to society.” She gave them a thumbs-up.
“I don’t think your producer would like that going viral,” said Russ.
Gabriella scoffed, but Alice could see the fear in her eyes. “You can’t prove that’s me.”
“We don’t really have to, do we?” asked Russ. “People will believe, and you may film a hundred more episodes and pretend to be the good girl, but you’ll be immortalized as an ice queen forever.”
Her eyes flicked to Alice. A lightning storm played across her face, terrible and frightening, before she got it under control. Lifting her manicured hand, she flicked it towards Russ. “You can have him, sweetie. Writers are a dime a dozen.” Attempting an air of sophistication she could never achieve with her level of acting skills, Gabriella pushed through the dance floor, leaving a trail of food dripping behind her.
Alice grinned.
Grandma was suddenly next to her. “Not bad for a girl from the wrong side of town.” She patted Alice’s cheek. The look in her eye was one of cunning. Which made Alice wonder if Grandma knew exactly who she was dropping barbecue on. Turning to Karleigh, Grandma said, “Let’s see if we can get this mess cleaned up.”
Karleigh grabbed a bunch of napkins and squatted down to wipe the floor.
Alice went to help but was stopped by a hand on her elbow. She turned and was pulled into Russ’s arms, where she completely forgot about the mess, Gabriella what’s-her-name, and dinner.
All she could see was Russ looking at her with love in his eyes.
