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But what he does next does not fit the script.
“I think that this time . . . you should go shopping for a new outfit.” He gives me a nervous, tittering laugh. “I don’t think your mother’s gowns are going to cut it this time.”
I stop short of raising my brows.
“Sure,” I agree, giving him a hesitant nod. I would have been more surprised if I didn’t know exactly what he was playing at.
This party is not meant to put me on display for Andy Furman.
It’s his son Theodore who’s supposed to take the bait this time. Wearing something new and flattering will tilt him in my direction.
That is bad news.
If he’s already working on Theo, it means Andy has all but agreed to his idea. It also means that his plans were progressing faster than I imagined.
And I’m still stuck with no plan.
Later that night,I’m clothed in a sleeveless, satin black dress, standing at the entrance of the same hall. My curly blond hair is still tucked in the same boring bun, and my face is bare of makeup. Still, I get more glances than I’d ever gotten as I stride into the hall, my arm tucked around my dad’s.
“You look beautiful,” my dad mutters. My stomach tenses. He never gives me compliments.
Whatever he’s planning to do here has higher stakes than I assumed.
He leads us past the hockey players lounging around and toward the center of the hall, where Andy Furman is talking to a group of older men. I keep my gaze straight ahead, not daring to look over at Alex, who is undoubtedly around. I cannot bear to see him after what happened between us.
The tension in my stomach grows, and not because we’re now approaching Andy. But because I’m thinking of how Alex had tried to seduce me into being his fake girlfriend.
I suppose I could be upset with Blake, but I know my brother well enough to realize he did not mean any harm. When he suggested a fake relationship, he probably envisioned a couple of publicly broadcast photos of us, along with Alex giving some interviews rattling on about how much of a great girl I am. Just something to keep the public off Janice.
He probably didn’t assume for a second that his best friend was going to try to seduce me into agreeing.
I blame myself for thinking that Alex’s god-like body is sexy, and for not smacking him in the face the moment he pulled me closer. Also, for letting myself believe for a brief moment that he was turned on by me the same way I was by him.
To make things even more humiliating, I was almost going to let him finger me right then and there.
Silly girl. I’d punch myself if I could.
“Hello, Andy.” My father’s voice snaps me back to attention. Andy Furman is right in front of me, flanked by several of his friends. “Happy birthday. I wanted you to meet my daughter, Britney.”
“Of course,” Andy replies. His gaze is piercing, and I can tell a million thoughts are speeding through his mind as he surveys me.
Goosebumps prickle my arms. Right now, I feel like a horse on display, being appraised for a sale.
He stares at me wordlessly for about five seconds. Then, with a tiny glint in his eyes, he reaches out, takes my hand, and brushes a kiss across the back of it.
“Pleasure,” he murmurs.
I don’t need to spot my dad’s grin to know that I passed the test.
“Excuse me,” I say, not waiting for an answer. Turning around, I march away from them as far as I can, feeling sick to my stomach. My dad’s harried apologies echo behind me, his large footsteps stumbling closer. Finally, he rushes past me and blocks my way.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I open my mouth to tell him I need some air, but he does not even let me speak.
“Why’d you do that? That was Andy Furman.”
I let out an exhale, suddenly tired of playing along with his bullshit.
