Part 15 (2/2)
He answered on the first ring. ”h.e.l.lo?”
”Liam! Where are you?”
”Where am I? My flight was delayed. We just landed, though, so as long as the traffic cooperates, I should be at the club on time.”
”You knew about the party, right?”
”Party? What are you talking about?”
”My surprise birthday party.” But hearing Liam's confusion made Scarlett realize it was a surprise for him, too.
Silence. ”Your . . . surprise birthday party?” Liam said finally.
”You didn't know about my party, did you?”
”No, Scarlett, I didn't know about your party.”
”Jane said you were on the guest list.”
”Well, my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail, then.”
”Oh, G.o.d! So your birthday plans for me were real? Telling me to pack an overnight bag and stuff? You didn't just make that up so I wouldn't suspect about the party?”
”We have a dinner reservation in Malibu. And I got us a room with an ocean view at this amazing inn.”
”You did?” Scarlett's heart melted. ”That's so sweet!”
”Yeah, well . . . if we leave the club right at seven, we should be able to make our reservation.”
”But, Liam, I can't just leave! They rented out the club for the night. Everyone's here. My eighty-five-year-old grandmother came all the way from Montecito. And the PopTV cameras are here, filming.” Scarlett thought for a moment. ”Why don't you come by here for a while, and we can leave for Malibu in, like, an hour or two? I don't mind eating late. I know you can't be filmed, but we can just keep you away from the cameras.”
More silence.
”Liam? Are you still there?”
”You're seriously standing me up for some lame L.A. Candy party?”
”I am not standing you up! Jane organized this, and she'd be really upset if I just took off, and . . . well, besides, we can do both! I know we can! We can hang out here for a bit, then we can head up the coast and have our romantic date.”
”I can't believe this,” Liam said. ”Your priorities are completely screwed up.”
”My priorities? What are you talking about? I'm dying to see you. I haven't seen you all week! But my family and friends are all here. I can't just walk out on my own party.”
”Yeah, you can. You just don't want to.”
”Liam, that's not-”
”Good night, Scarlett. I hope you have a nice birthday.”
Click.
Scarlett stared at the dead phone in her hand. Had Liam just hung up on her? What the h.e.l.l? How could he not understand the predicament she was in? Maybe she hadn't explained things clearly enough. . . .
She started to redial his number when Dana rushed into the ladies' room. ”Scarlett! There you are! We need you out here right this second!” she said.
”What? Why?”
”Cuz they're about to bring out your cake. Come on, come on!”
”Fine! I'm coming!”
Sighing, Scarlett tucked her phone back in her pocket and switched her mike back on. As she followed Dana out of the ladies' room, she caught sight of her own reflection in the mirror. Her face looked tense and unhappy. She hated fighting with Liam. An hour ago, she had been packing her bag, wondering what amazing surprise he had in store for her birthday.
Malibu. A little inn by the sea. It was just like Liam to dream up something like that.
And now, she was stuck at this party . . . and he was mad at her. How had everything gotten so twisted around?
Walking out of the ladies' room, Scarlett saw the crowd-her crowd-having fun, drinking champagne, dancing to the Black Eyed Peas. She took a deep breath and plastered a big smile on her face. It was time to play the birthday girl, at least for a little while longer, until she could slip away and go find Liam and make up. If it wasn't too late.
Then Jane rushed to her side, her face as tense and unhappy as Scarlett's had been in the ladies' room mirror before. ”Hey. What's up?” Scarlett asked her curiously.
Jane nodded toward the doorway. ”Guess what just walked in?”
Scarlett followed Jane's gaze. Madison and Sophia were standing there, wearing variations on the same strapless metallic Spandex dress, smiling and waving as though they were on the red carpet. Gaby was walking up to them, air-kissing and clinging to her hockey-player ”boyfriend.”
”I'm a.s.suming you didn't invite them,” Scarlett whispered to Jane.
”Uh, no. Gaby told me she invited them. But honestly? I think Trevor messed with the guest list when the Evites were getting sent out.”
Yeah, Trevor messed with the guest list all right, Scarlett thought, thinking of Liam. It all made sense now. Trevor would not have wanted Liam at the party-not just because Liam couldn't be filmed, but because it would interfere with whatever trumped-up ”flirtation” scenes Trevor had in mind for Scarlett and Naveen.
Could this birthday get any worse?
Chapter 24.
Two Steps Ahead
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