Page 75 of Crew Girl

“Pretty sure they’re real,” Teagan said. They did almost look too good to be true. Josh in his crown, Britney in hers, their cheeks glowing as cell phone lights captured the perfect moment. “I guess some couples are just meant to be.” And some weren’t.

Juliet took Teagan by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. “Look, if Cam can’t get over himself, that’s his problem to deal with.”

“Yeah, but he left me here. By myself. I must have done something.”

Juliet shook her head. “No. Sorry. That was all him. So pull that pouty lip in and stop trying to blame his insecurity on yourself.”

Teagan pushed her lip out farther, just to provoke her friend. Juliet had no patience for sulking.

“Teagan! He literally said he didn’t think he was good enough for you. Even though he knows you like him for who he is. We all do. He’s beating himself up for no reason. Sure, we tease him, but that’s what happens when you interact with other humans.”

Teagan huffed out a sigh. Juliet was right, but she still felt horrible. Watching Josh and Britney dance romantically wasn’t helping.

“Hey.” Juliet bumped shoulders with her. “Want to bail and watch Saw in my room?”

Before Teagan could reply, a familiar outfit stepped into her line of vision.

“Good evening, ladies.” Perry offered them a courtly bow that was mostly aimed at Juliet.

Interesting. Teagan looked from one friend to the other. It really was uncanny that they’d chosen to make exactly the same fashion statement tonight. It must have been fate.

“Juliet?” Perry arched one of his perfectly shaped eyebrows, his voice coming out in a strangely formal staccato. Like someone—Teagan—was forcing him to say the words. “I have something to tell you. About your outfit.”

Juliet shot Teagan a look like, Oh boy, here we go.

“You wore it best,” Perry said. “I thought you should know.”

Juliet looked stunned.

Teagan shoots… and she scores! She congratulated herself on her matchmaking abilities.

Now that Perry had survived his earth-shatteringly awkward admission, he held out his hand to Juliet. “Would you, perchance, like to dance?”

Juliet shot a look at Teagan, clearly worried it was a trap.

“Yes, Perry,” Teagan answered for her in her sweetest voice. “Juliet would love to dance.”

“Wonderful.”

As Juliet took Perry’s hand, she whispered to Teagan, “I’ll kill you for this.”

“You’re welcome,” Teagan said with a smile as she watched them dance together.

At least someone’s night had taken an upswing.

She needed to get out of here. Now. There was only one place in the world that made her feel like herself. So as late as it was, that was where she would go.

The door to the boathouse opened and closed. Her all-too-brief alone time was over. Had Cam come looking for her?

“Hello?” she called into the dark clubhouse room. In the dim light, she saw Josh shouldering a tote bag.

“Hey,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

“Ummm…” She could ask him the same thing, but he’d asked first. “My night turned out to be a bust.”

“Oh. Sorry. Everything okay?”

No, obviously. “Turns out Cam’s not sure he can ‘do this’ right now.”