Page 23 of Meant to be Mine

He wagged his brows once, delighted with himself, and turned back to whatever he’d been doing.

Stop it. Concentrate.

I was not going to crush on my friend.

9

DREW

The day was almost over, which meant I’d survived it. It had been a long one. I had not spent a lot of time in the fashion world. I knew Hollywood but from an arm’s length. It was chaos. I admired my cousins for living in this world and maintaining their cool. I needed a stiff drink and a nap.

My eyes found Kensey just like I had been tracking her all day. She was standing beside the main rack. She was talking to one of the male models. I wasn’t jealous. I couldn’t be. She was just my friend.

She looked up at the seamstress and said something that made the woman laugh. I had no idea what she said. I just watched the seamstress put her hand over her mouth and shake with it.

“The black jacket,” Annika said. “Are you listening to me?”

“The black jacket,” I repeated.

“You’ve looked over there more than you’ve looked at me.”

“I’m listening.”

“How long have the two of you been together?”

I looked back at her. “We’re not. She’s my best friend. We’ve known each other since we were teenagers.”

“I see.”

“Just friends,” I repeated.

“Of course,” Annika said. It was very clear she didn’t believe it.

“I mean it. She’s doing me a favor, filling in for the summer. We’re not—there’s nothing like that.”

Annika tilted her head slightly without looking up. “The best couples are friends first. In my experience.”

“That’s a nice thought.”

“It is not a thought. It is an observation.” She clicked her pen. “I have been in this business for twenty years. I have watched more than one Blackwell fall in love.” She finally looked up at me. “You have that look.”

“I’ve known her forever,” I said.

“Your cousin Sebastian had the look when I met his wife. Adrian had it too. Like you are trying very hard not to look at someone and failing completely.”

I wasn’t sure what to say to that.

She held up a hand. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me. Just making an observation.”

I looked across the room again. “She’s a great girl,” I said. Which was not a denial of anything, really, but it was all I had.

Annika smiled at her clipboard. “Yes. She seems like she is.”

An idea popped into my head. “Actually. That gives me an idea. Can I ask you something?”

She looked up.

“The party,” I said. “Kensey doesn’t have anything to wear. She packed for a summer at her parents’ house. Not for a Blackwell event.” I kept my voice even, like it was a totally normal ask. “I’d like her to have something. Something nice. Could you find something in the collection that would work for her and fit it properly before you head back?”