Princess of Hollywood (The Glitterati Files #2) - Maggie Dallen Page 0,20
tell me your dad wouldn’t appreciate the extra income.”
He jerked back as the reality of that struck him. Yeah, my family wasn’t the only one struggling financially, and we both knew it. His eyes darted around in a panic, and I could basically see him scrambling for an excuse.
“But school is still—”
“They’ll hook you up with a tutor,” I said, jerking my thumb over my shoulder in the direction I’d come from. “That’s what they’re doing for Amber.”
His brows drew down, and I could see the questions forming. “Yeah, about Amber… how is she here? When did that happen and—”
I held up a hand. “Another time, man. There’s a lot you need to get caught up on.”
He stilled, hearing something in my voice, I was sure. “Like what?”
Like the fact that I’m gay. Like the fact that Lila loves you…
I sighed. There was a lot to say, and this was so not the place to do it. Truth be told, it was one thing to admit I was gay to Lila as she and I discussed my crush on Richard.
It was something else altogether to tell my oldest friend. I glanced around. And I sure as hell didn’t plan on coming out in the middle of a crowd.
But Jack was waiting for a response, and I could see the intensity in his eyes. The desperation.
He wanted her. He needed her. But he thought she’d ditched him… for me.
It would have been laughable if it wasn’t so sad. I clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You’re being too hard on her.”
His eyes hardened, and his mouth thinned into a fine line, but at least he didn’t play dumb and ask who I was talking about. “She’s your girlfriend now, I get it.”
Now I did let out a huff of amusement. For some reason, it hadn’t occurred to me that Jack would be fooled. I’d thought he’d known both of us better than that.
I leaned in close. “Look, I can’t explain everything right now.” I glanced around meaningfully. “Right here. But just trust me, okay?”
Jack’s brows drew down in confusion, and I sighed.
“She and I… it’s not what you think.”
“Then what is it, exactly?”
I licked my lips as I thought of how best to explain. Finally, I met his gaze and held it. “She saved me, bro. She knew I was in trouble, and she saved me. She hurt you, and she broke her own heart…” His eyes flashed with surprise, and I squeezed his shoulder in return. “But you should know that she only did all that to look out for me.”
He stared me down for a long while, and whatever he saw there had his eyes softening, a flash of hurt mixing with hope that made my own heart twist in response.
It was a rare thing to see my best friend in love.
It was actually kind of sweet.
“Will you trust me?” I asked.
He nodded slowly. “Yeah. Okay. I trust you.”
I grinned and wrapped an arm around his shoulders in another bro hug. “Good, man. Then welcome to the show.”
Six
Lila
It was official. I was in hell.
“I don’t understand,” I said.
Brandon was walking next to me and he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Smile, Princess.”
I elbowed him in the ribs. “You know I hate that nickname.”
It was what my dad called me when I was in his good graces, so, you know… it had been a while since he’d used the term of endearment. At least, not without an edge of mocking sarcasm that left me cold.
And then, Jack had called me that when he was annoyed with me or teasing me, which, come to think of it, had made up the majority of our non-existent relationship.
But even so, the use of that nickname now only made me more tense, because… “He’s still here?” I was hissing now because Brandon’s arm around my shoulders and the nickname were his not-so-subtle reminder that we had roles to play, and as we were currently striding through the halls of Beverly Hills Academy, we were officially ‘on.’
Brandon lowered his voice and spoke without moving his lips. “Ex-boyfriend alert, two o’clock.”
I froze, enough that I stumbled over my steps, and Brandon and I lost our easy stride.
My gaze shot ahead and to the right and… Marcus.
I let out a loud exhale.
He was talking about my ex, Marcus. Not Jack. I elbowed Brandon in the ribs. “Don’t do that to me.”
“What, did you think I meant…” He glanced over at me and winced. “Sorry.”