AllFreeNovel
Share Us
4
As I slideout of the car, I stare at the text I fired off to my stepmom on the way to the club.
Annie: Tyler and Dad are buying Wicked? WTF???
Deciding it’s a little harsh,I add one more.
Annie: Safe travels from Dallas tomorrow. Can’t wait to see you all.
I pocketthe phone and trip into the back entrance of BLUE, shoving aside the million questions that feel as if they can’t wait until Haley and my dad arrive tomorrow.
I come face-to-face with a shark.
It takes a moment to realize it’s mounted on the wall.
“Watch out, Manatee,” comes a familiar voice from the dark hallway to the left. “It’s gonna eat you.”
I turn to see one of my favorite people.
Beck looks effortlessly at ease in a button-down shirt that clings to his body, shoulders and chest made more defined from workouts with his Hollywood trainer for his new TV show. His dark hair and lean, smiling face are the same.
He holds out his arms, and I dive into them.
“Tell me you haven’t turned into a douche since I last saw you,” I murmur into his shoulder before pulling back.
“Why would you say that?”
I tap a finger against my lips. “Because your show is number two on the biggest streaming service? But mostly because those are some douchey Prada shades.”
He shrugs. “People send me clothes. Legally, I have to wear clothes to go out in public. Win-win.”
I grin as I follow him down the hall and into the club.
“This place is incredible,” I call, my voice bouncing off the walls designed to optimize sound. “Why did you want to meet here?”
“Free drinks.”
I think he’s joking.
BLUE is ocean themed—not like a kids’ aquarium, but like some yacht fantasy come to life. Rae came down early to check out the setup with the sound engineer, so we decided to have our meeting here because it’s closed and private with room to spread out.
“In that case, a soda would be great.”
Beck crosses to the bar and talks to the bartender—maybe a little longer than necessary—but when I look, the bartender’s the one leaning over the surface, eyes bright with interest.
Rae’s already sitting at one of the booths, on the phone. She holds it up, and Elle waves at me from the screen.
“Surprise! Sorry I’m not there in person,” Elle says. “I will be in a couple of days.”
“Are you kidding? I’m so glad you guys are all coming. We both are,” I amend.
Beck pries himself away from the bartender and returns with drinks for us. “Where is Tyler?”
“Working,” I tell them, struggling to leave the disbelief out of my voice. “So, what’s with the ambush?”
Beck and Rae exchange a look, but it’s Beck who speaks. “First, remind me what you guys have planned for the next week.”
I shift forward, wary but excited to talk about anything wedding related. “Well, I knew it would be hard for everyone to get the time, given our schedules, so I wanted to make it special. To show everyone how much it means that you’re all coming and part of our lives.”
