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“Uh, sorry to say, but incoming,” Penelope whispered, and I hissed in response.
“Ohmigosh.” Gabby’s voice grew closer until it was right beside me. “You looked so adorbs on Entertainment Tonight. And going to The Breakers with Thorne like that? Damn, girl.”
The hair on the back of my neck prickled. “We just hung out,” I said, annoyed that I even felt the need to defend myself to her. “That’s all.”
“Riiight.” Gabby winked. “I’m sure he just hangs out with all the girls. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that we’re having a party this weekend, at Mikey’s place. His parents are going away for the weekend. You and Thorne should totally come. It’ll be super low-key. Just us and a few others. Sorry, P.” She flashed Penelope a smile that didn’t look particularly apologetic.
“I’m not crying over it,” Penelope said.
I shook my head. “Yeah, I don’t think—”
“Thorne already said yes.”
Seriously?“Well, sorry. No can do. I’m grounded,” I said, grateful for once it was true.
Gabby frowned. “That’s too bad, but maybe Thorne can still come?”
“Hmmm . . . yeah, maybe.” Over my dead body.
Someone called Gabby’s name, and she glanced toward them. “Well, gotta go, but we’ll see ya later?”
“Too-da-loo,” I said, fluttering my fingers.
When she left, I turned to Penelope and gagged. “How can one person be so disingenuous?”
“I was watching Entertainment Tonight last night when they shared the story.” Penelope bumped me with her hip. “Are you really grounded? I know my father would kill me.”
“For now. My dad was pretty livid. I’ve actually never seen him like that before, and now they want me to stop seeing Thorne.”
Penelope nodded. “Will you?”
I bit my lip. “I don’t know. I mean, I don’t want to, but I’m not sure how to fix the situation. I can’t take away his fame, which is what they’re worried about. All the side effects of his being a celebrity. Blah, blah, blah.”
P grimaced. “Hard one.”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “I haven’t even told him yet.”
“So what are you gonna do?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Sneak around?”
“Whoa.”
“What?” I asked, picking at a nail.
“I’m just surprised. It’s like you went from zero to three-sixty. From not wanting to date high school boys to sneaking around behind your parents’ back.”
I shrugged. “Maybe I’ve never met a boy worth the effort until now. Besides, it’s not like Thorne’s your average high schooler.”
Penelope held her hands up. “I’m not criticizing. I . . . I like it, actually. Crushing on someone looks good on you.”
My cheeks heated, and I glanced away, lest she see right through me.
“And now you’re blushing.” Penelope laughed. “Oh, yeah. I think I’m kind of loving this softer side of you.”
My face burned hotter. “Let’s not make a thing of it, okay?”
A familiar cackle came from the other end of the hall, and when I reluctantly turned toward the sound, my gaze met with Gabby, surrounded by a throng of minions. “Isohope the media doesn’t show up at Mikey’s this weekend when Thorne and Scarlett are there, but if they do, we’ll deal with it. I mean, that’s what friends are for, right?”
