Page 76 of Somewhere Only We Know
The area was so crowded that Lucky recoiled as soon as she stepped out of the car. “Oh, Lord,” she said.
“They play the best music. Don’t be scared of the club rats,” Charlie said, sticking his head out the window, right arm dangling alongside the door. Lucky eyed the crowd skeptically, and Charlie took that moment to grab me by the arm and bring me in close. “Whatever you’re planning on doing, don’t,” he whispered furiously.
What a time for him to turn into some noble knight. “Don’t worry about it,” I said tightly.
He got a worried expression that was completely foreign to Charlie’susual happy-go-lucky MO. “I mean it. She likes you. She doesn’t deserve it. And more than that—youlikeher. I’ve never seen you like this, Jack. Don’t mess it up.”
I glared at him. “Messwhatup? There’s nothing after tonight. Today isit.”
He shook his head but before he could respond, Lucky had whirled around and tugged on my shirt. “There’s a good song playing right now! Let’s go!” she said, jumping from foot to foot in excitement.
“Thanks for the ride, Charlie,” I said, shaking my arm from his grip.
Lucky came over and reached into the window to hug Charlie. “Thanks so much. For the hamburger, for saving us. For everything!”
Then the asshat planted a quick kiss on her cheek and said, “Don’t mention it. Have fun. And you’re gonna kill it onThe Later Tonight Show. I can’t wait to watch.”
She looked surprised as he drove away, honking his horn and waving at us. I resisted flipping him off.
“How did he know about that?” she asked.
“I’m pretty sure he’s a fan,” I said drily.
“Don’t be jealous,” she teased as we walked to the end of the long line snaking around the bar.
“How dare you,” I said with Lucky’s mannerism.
She laughed, throwing her head back. “Well, if you were jealous of every fan…”
I frowned. It was true. There were thousands of dudes (and dudettes) who were probably obsessed with Lucky. Who memorized every angle of her face and body. Who imagined kissing her the way I had kissed her earlier today.
“Good luck to your future boyfriend,” I muttered. I regretted it thesecond I said it. The word “boyfriend” clunked down between us, like an anvil. I cleared my throat. “Let’s cut this line.”
She protested. “No! I don’t want to make a scene.”
“It won’t be a scene.” I wove through the crowd with Lucky’s hand in mine. When we got to the front of the line, I assessed the bouncer. He looked like he could crush me with one of his meaty fists. But he was fairly young, and seemed stressed out as he tried to keep the line in check.
I pulled out my phone and talked loudly into it. “Jesus Christ, Garrett! Where are you?” Lucky looked at me with wide eyes. I kept talking. “I’m at the club, but I don’t see you anywhere. I don’t have time for this. The meeting was supposed to happennow.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear, feigning irritation, and barked at the bouncer, “Hey, is Sylvia in?”
He looked at me in confusion as two girls in short skirts passed him. “What? Who?”
“Sylvia!” I snapped. “I have a meeting with her and my freaking agent isn’t here yet.”
The bouncer frowned. “I don’t know who that is, sir.”
At “sir,” Lucky giggled. I threw her a warning glance. She composed her features into a serious face. A serious face that looked bored.
“Ugh. Why are we even out here?” she asked in an agitated, lazy drawl. She got the rich-party-kid thing down. I raised my eyebrows.Good job.
“Bro, can you let us in already? This is getting ridiculous! Sylvia’s gonna lose hermind!” I raised my voice. Lucky sighed heavily next to me, crossing her arms and tapping her feet.
Trying to wrangle a group of drunk dudes, the bouncer shook his head. “I can’t—”
But Lucky walked up to him and put her hand on his arm. “Sylvia will thank you later.” She smiled, using the full wattage of Lucky star power on him. He looked physically stunned for a second before waving us in.
When we slipped into the dark entrance, I pulled Lucky toward me. “You’re good.”
