“Everyone knows Elle,” I said. Truth. Elle Delacroix was probably the most famous member of Dirty. Not only was she their bassist, but she had it going on. Solo music career. Makeup line. I saw her in a movie last year… I hadn’t seen her at the party, though. “I, uh, doubt she knows me, though.”
“You have a name?”
“Oh. Yeah. I’m Courteney.”
“Courteney…”
“Clarke.”
“Oh.” Her blue-gray eyes went all big. “You mean… Are you related to Cary Clarke? Like… the legendary Cary Clarke?”
And here we go.
“Yeah. He’s my brother.”
“Cool.” Her eyes narrowed as she studied my face. “Wow. Your brother’shot. You must hear that all the time and it must drive you nuts.”
“Kinda.”
“I get it. My sister’s pretty hot, too.”
“Right.”
“Rock stars, huh? Can’t live with them… can’t exactly pretend you don’t know them. Last name and all.”
I kind of snort-laughed. I was probably already drunker than I thought.
“Oh, good. You do laugh.”
“Sometimes,” I said. “Usually when things are least funny, weirdly enough.”
“Hmm. You’re cool,” she said. “We should hang.”
“Maybe not in a closet next time, though.”
She grinned. “So… Who was it?”
“Who was what?”
“The dickhead who sent you in here in tears.” My smile faded and she shrugged. “I saw you sneak away up the stairs.”
“No one.” I dabbed at the corners of my eyes again. “I mean… I shouldn’t really say.”
“Hey, I get it. Trust me. They’reallheartbreakers. You’re not the first girl to end up in tears at one of these parties.”
I studied her. The sympathy in her eyes. “You?”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “Me.”
“Tears… for who?”
“Take your pick. I mean, my first true love was Dylan Cope, but he has no idea. My sister and him are like BFFs. He thinks I’m like a cute little kitten or something. I don’t think he even notices I’m human. He pats my head every time he sees me… It’s sad how happy it makes me.”
“Damn.”
“It’s okay. It’s better this way. You know, it’s good to have one perfect specimen to measure all other men against. If I actually hooked up with him, he probably wouldn’t live up to the fantasy anyway.”
I wondered about that. Was she right?
