But how?
This wasn’t the kind of problem I could fix with a phone call. Alec deserved more than that. He deserved an apology in person. For a second, I considered chasing down Violet to have her arrange a meeting, but then I got a better idea. I scrolled through my contacts and texted the one person who might be able to help me.
Felicity:Hey, this is Felicity Lyon. We met the other weekend? I know me texting you is kind of weird, but I need your help.
There was a huge possibility that he wouldn’t respond, especially considering how I’d treated his friend, but I held my breath as I waited for an answer.
A minute later my phone buzzed.
007:Lol. I remember who you are, Felicity. What’s up?
Felicity:I screwed things up with Alec. I need to apologize, but I want to do it in person.
007:I have an idea, but you’ll need a nice dress.
I smiled to myself. I knew just the one.
***
Oliver’s plan was gutsy.
It required me to sneak out of the house, and considering I was on thin ice with my mom, it was also reckless. But to win Alec back, I was down for anything. I pulled an all-nighter in preparation, finishing both my mockingbird necklace and the jewelry Oliver had ordered for Stella, and at four o’clock sharp the next afternoon, I grabbed my messenger bag and crawled out the window. Mom would discover my absence as soon as dinnertime rolled around, so I’d left a note on my desk in explanation. Whatever punishment she threw my way would be worth it if I could put right the mess I’d made.
I squeezed through the bushes as carefully as I could, and once I broke free of the tangle, I tore across the lawn toward a limo idling at the curb.
Great, that doesn’t stick out at all…
I spared a quick glance back at my house. The curtains on the front window were wide open, and I was suddenly nervous that my mom might look out. I should’ve told Oliver to pick me up around the corner or, better yet, in a vehicle that wasn’t so extravagant. Because, honestly. Was a limousine really necessary?
When I reached the car, I yanked on the handle in my hurry to get inside. The door flung open, and I all but tumbled onto the grass. A familiar snicker greeted me.
“Excited to see me, I see.”
JJ was sitting in the seat nearest the door. His long legs were stretched out in front of him, preventing me from climbing inside. The smirk on his face made me want to take a deep breath and countto ten, a moment of mental preparation since I would be spending most of the evening with him, but there was no time. Waving my hand in a shooing gesture, I motioned for him to scoot in.
“Hi to you too,” he grumbled, but he unbuckled his seat belt and slid over next to Xander, who smiled at me in greeting.
“Sorry,” I responded, practically throwing myself into the car. “But I’m grounded. My mom wasn’t exactly thrilled about my impromptu road trip to Seattle.”
“Is that why you climbed through the window instead of using the front door like a normal person?” I turned to see Oliver, who was sprawled across the middle seat of the limo. He offered me that Oliver Perry smile of his.
“You guys saw that?” All three boys nodded and I winced. “Wonderful.”
“We’ve never harbored a fugitive before,” JJ exclaimed. He grinned as if aiding and abetting was an experience he’d been meaning to check off his bucket list.
“Have too,” Xander said. “What about that time in Mexico when—”
JJ cut him off. “That doesn’t count.”
“What was his name again? It was something ridiculous, like Hot Dog or—”
“Dude, we don’t talk about Cheeseburger. Ever.”
Oliver snorted at his friends before saying to me, “We have to swing by the airport to pick up Stella, and then we’ll be on our way. You brought a different outfit, right?”
“Yeah,” I said, patting my bag. My dress, heels, and makeup case were packed inside. “But I need somewhere to change.”
Unlike myself, the guys were already dressed for the evening. Oliver wore a deep burgundy suit, no tie, with the top few buttons of his black dress shirt left undone. It was the kind of outfit most men couldn’t pull off, but looked stylish and cool on the few who could, and he easily fell into the second category. JJ, on the other hand, had opted for a more classic look, a black suit and tie combo, and its slim fit made his already broad shoulders look massive. Of the three, Xander was the only one not wearing a suit. He was sporting dress pants, a white button-down, and navy blue suspenders with a matching bow tie.
