Page 30 of The Bad Boyfriend Curse
Noah gives me a tiny little nod, then steps toward me and puts out his arm. I take it and focus only on how strong and warm his arm feels under his thin shirt, instead of worrying about what’s going to happen at Jason’s party.
Let the charade begin.
No one says anything as we walk into the club, but therearen’t a lot of people around. I find someone who clearly works here and ask where Jason LeClair’s party is. She points us down a hallway to the same small banquet hall where the wedding reception was. There’s a man at the door who asks for our names.
“Meera Noorani and guest,” I say.
The man finally looks up at us, and kudos to him, his expression doesn’t change at all when he sees Noah’s pierced and eyelinered face. “I see Meera Noorani on the list, but no guest. Could I please have your name, sir?” he asks Noah.
“His name won’t be there. Here, let me text my mother.”
Meera: mom, you said i could bring a friend to the party, right? the man won’t let us in at the door
Mom: Yes, but you didn’t say you were bringing someone.
Meera: you didn’t ask. so now i’m not allowed to bring someone?
Mom: No, it’s fine. Tell the man Neelam LeClair said you can bring a guest.
I show the man the text, and he lets us in, his expression still not concerned with Noah’s emo-boy vibe.
Arm in arm, Noah and I walk into the hall. I’ve been here before, and even without the wedding centerpieces and decor, it’s ridiculously ornate. Part banquet hall and part greenhouse, the back half of the room has glass walls, and a big glass domed ceiling. That’s where the wedding ceremony was. The rest of the room is done in shades of cream and dark wood, and there’s a huge crystal chandelier in the middle of the room. There are a lot of people here, easily over two hundred. I tense. This is way more people than there were at thewedding. The men are wearing dress shirts and jackets with no ties, while the women are in cocktail dresses, or nice pants and blouses. My heart pounds heavily in my ears.
I get why Mom was freaking out now. All these people are here forJason, one of the most powerful people in this town. This party isn’t only for Jason to announce that he’s running for mayor but also to introduce his new family to Cherrybridge. He wants Mom and me to beseen.
Which is exactly what I want too. I want everyone here to see me with Noah, and I want them to think we don’t belong here. But after being a rule-follower, a high achiever my whole life, being bad on purpose is kind of scary. I bite my lip.
Noah squeezes my arm, and I glance up at him. He doesn’t look annoyed, aloof, or even flirty. He looksconcerned. He’s noticed that I’m freaking out.
“You got this, Noorani. I’m right here with you.” His voice is low, like it’s only for my ears. And it’s so calming.
I exhale. “Yeah. Thanks.”
“It’s fine if you want to change your mind,” he says. “We can leave. Or I can go.”
I blink at him. That’s amazing. Like, he knows I’m anxious, and he’s giving me an out. I shake my head. I don’t want him to leave. I don’t know if I can do this without Noah next to me. “Stay,” I say.
He smiles and nods.
“Excuse me,” a man in a dark suit and tie says, coming toward us. He’s older than Jason and has light gray hair. “I don’t think you’re supposed to be here.”
I’m about to say yes, we are supposed to be here, whenNoah answers instead. “You’re not wearing a uniform or name tag. Do you work here? Because if you don’t, you can’t know if we’re on the guest list.”
The man makes a face like he just ate a bug. “No, I’m a member of the club and a close personal friend of the host. I don’t recognize the two of you. This is a private party.”
I don’t know this man—and if he doesn’t know me, then I don’t think he was at the wedding. So much for being a “close personal friend.”
“And we have an invitation to thisprivate party,” Noah says. “Meera, let’s go see what there is to eat at this thing—”
The man puts his hand on Noah’s arm, stopping him. “I’m calling security.” He starts to wave down a staff member. “The club has had so many party crashers lately.”
I finally find my voice. “Iamon the guest list,” I say, louder than I intended. “Jason LeClair invited me to this party, and this is my date.” The man looks appalled, which makes me tighten my hand on Noah’s arm. I feel very warm all of a sudden, and my whole body is shaking.
I see my mother and Jason coming toward us. I exhale. Before they’ve even reached us, the man in the suit says, “These two claim to have been invited by you.” He sneers at us again.
“Of course they were invited,” Jason says. “Stuart, this is my stepdaughter, Meera, and my wife, Neelam. I know you haven’t had the opportunity to meet yet, but I assure you, they very much belong at this party. Meera’s friend is also welcome.”
Jason turns to Noah then, whose arm is still in mine. AndI have to give one point to Jason. His expression does not change at all when he takes in Noah’s clothes, ink, and piercings. Jason’s a great politician.
