Page 24 of Lucky 22

And, unfortunately, over too soon.

“Goodnight, Ella Rose.” He reaches around me to open my cardoor and holds it until I’m seated. “Text me when you get home so I know youmade it there safely.”

I can’t take my eyes off him, even as I nod and promise, “Iwill.”

He closes my door and takes a step back, but he doesn’t moveuntil I pull out of the parking spot and then turn out onto the road.

I’m smiling, even though I feel like I just left part of myheart back there under that bright light.

I guess my fourth-grade teacher was right. Something specialdid happen on my golden birthday.

I know this is the beginning of something big.

Chapter Five

I’m having a tea party.

Sort of.

So, fun fact, I love tea parties. Like, I’m seriouslyobsessed with them and have been ever since I was a little girl. When I’mhappy? Tea party. When I’m sad or stressed? Then it’s a pit-tea party.

I’m hysterical, I know.

Right now, I’m happy. Jen is doing my hair and makeup forthe movie premiere tonight, and I’m wearing my fluffy pink robe, sipping tea,and letting her do her thing.

“I got home late last night and heard you talking tosomeone, but I didn’t want to disturb you,” she says as she begins curling myhair. “Did Christian spend the night?”

“What?!” I cry, choking on my tea. “No, Christiandidn’t spend the night! He wasn’t even here. We were on the phone. Sheesh.”

She steps in front of me with a wink and a grin. “Justchecking.”

With a nervous laugh, I defend myself. “Why would you evenask such a thing? We just went out the one time.”

“Yeah, I know, but you’ve been talking about him nonstopever since.”

“Um…”

“When you got home Monday night, how late did we stay uptalking about the date?”

Oh. Right.

“They had to use extra concealer under my eyes when I got tohair and makeup Tuesday morning.”

“Because it was easily 3:00 a.m. when we finally crashed.And when you got home Tuesday night, you were still gushing about him.”

“He’s very gushable. What can Isay?” I quip before taking a sip of my chai tea. “He called me last night.That’s who you heard me talking to. We were on the phone for three hours, and Ididn’t want to hang up.”

“Mm-hmm…”

“I hope this premiere doesn’t freak him out or make himthink I’m a weirdo or something.”

“Why would you even think that?”

“I look very different in the movie and act completelydifferently.”

“Yeah, it’s called acting, Ella. He knows it’s not real.”She steps in front of me and continues to wield her curling iron. “So, you playa punk rock chick and look a lot less like your usual Pollyanna self. It’s justa role. And if he freaks out over it, then that’s a tiny red flag.”

“I don’t want there to be any flags,” I murmur, feelingmyself pout.