??Where I recognize her from.” His smirk transforms into a shit-eating grin. “You will never believe it, bro.”
I’m literally starting to sweat. “I won’t believe what?”
His smile falls, a knowing gleam in his eyes. “Maybe you already know. Yeah, I think you do know.”
“You’re talking in fucking riddles,” I mutter just before I turn and walk away. I push my way through the clusters of people talking, ignoring my brother, who can’t stop calling my name.
He knows. He knows Jensen works at City Lights. I need to get her out of here before she freaks out. Before Park blabs her secret to my dad and Diane and the shit really starts hitting the fan.
I lose him when he gets stopped by one of Dad’s friends, and I rush to the guest bathroom on the other side of the kitchen, knocking repeatedly on the door. “Jensen, you in there?”
“Hold on, I’ll be out in a sec!” I hear the toilet flush, and then the sound of water running.
Glancing over my shoulder, I see Park is still chatting with Dad’s friend, and he’s annoyed, looking around the room. He spots me, his entire face lighting up, and he tells the older gentleman something before he nods and starts heading my way.
“Hurry up, Jens,” I tell her, pounding on the door. “We gotta go. Now.”
“Calm down, Rhett. I’m almost done.” I’m annoying her, but fuck it. We need to leave before Park corners me.
“Lingering around bathrooms now, hmm?”
I turn to find Diane standing before me, a glass of champagne clutched in one hand. Fucking great. The silver sequined dress she’s wearing is nearly blinding, it’s so flashy, and her too blonde hair is piled high on top of her head. The better to show off the very expensive, very large diamond earrings dangling from her ears.
“Just waiting for Jensen,” I tell her, wishing she’d leave.
Diane purses her lips. “What? Do you not trust her to be at a party alone? You have to follow her everywhere?”
Irritation fills me. “No, but Dad shouldn’t trust you at a party alone, that’s for damn sure.”
Park chooses this exact moment to show up, his gaze landing on Diane. “We shouldn’t be seen together.”
“Why not? Rhett’s here with us. We’re not doing anything but having a simple conversation during your sister’s birthday party,” Diane says, her tone innocent, her expression anything but.
Park appears extremely uncomfortable. I’m hoping he’ll forget all about our earlier conversation. “We can talk later,” he tells Diane.
She mock-pouts. “I haven’t seen you all night. You’re too busy with your—girlfriend.”
“Veronica is not my girlfriend,” Park says.
“Where is Veronica?” I want him to get the hell out of here and go find her. I wonder if Jensen realizes we’re all on the other side of the door, and that’s why she hasn’t come out of the bathroom yet.
“Outside dancing with the teenagers,” Park mumbles.
“Figures,” Diane says with a little snort. “Maybe she likes them extra young.”
“Same goes for you,” Park accuses.
I say nothing. This is getting juicy, but I don’t want to be in the middle of it.
“Let’s meet in, say, thirty minutes. In your old bedroom,” Diane suggests.
This makes me taking Jensen up to my former bedroom feel sleazy. “Are you two really going to plan a tryst in front of me?”
“What does it matter? You already saw us together,” Park says, sending Diane a quick too-intimate smile.
“You two disgust me.” I wish Jensen would just come out of the bathroom already.
“What’s your girlfriend doing in the bathroom, anyway?” Diane asks me. “She’s taking forever.”