Page 94 of Light Up My Life

“Stay out of my room,” I teased, looking up at the overhead lights on the porch to keep the tears at bay.

“So? Are you game?” my brother asked.

“One hour?” I asked.

“I don’t think we can ditch this party for more than an hour without our moms suspecting we’re going for more than a food run.”

“You told them a food run?”

“I told them the food here was for old people.”

I threw my arms around Marcus in a tight hug. “You’re the best.”

“I really am.”

Chapter 33

Is there a door you can sneak me in through? I texted Fiona from the backseat of Daniel’s car.

Yes!!! she responded almost immediately.

Don’t tell Ryan, I want to surprise him.

Lips are sealed.

“I thought you hated Ryan,” I said to Marcus, tucking my phone away.

My brother turned from where he was sitting in the passenger seat to face me. “Hate is a strong word.”

“Loathe? Is that a better one?”

“I don’t hate him. I don’t even know him. But if you like him, maybe he’s not as bad as I thought.”

“Ryan Moreno?” Daniel asked, pulling out of the neighborhood.

“You know him?” Marcus asked.

“Only a little. His friends are jerks.”

Marcus gave me a single shrug as if to say, That’s what I thought.

“Just take me to my ball without so much judgment, please,” I said. “Cinderella didn’t have to deal with all this.”

Marcus laughed. “Those little mice that helped her were pretty opinionated, actually.”

“Are we the mice in this scenario?” Daniel asked.

“Yes,” I said. “Helpful little rodents.”

The country club wasn’t far, and my nerves were kicking in. It would have been one thing to walk into this party on Ryan’s arm. He knew the layout, knew who to avoid, where to go. It was a completely different story to sneak in. Maybe I should’ve texted him, told him I was coming, but by the time I really analyzed it, worked myself up, Daniel was pulling up to the service door that Fiona had told me about.

“We’ll drive around for a while,” Marcus said. He checked his phone. “We’ll be back here at ten. Don’t be late.” He handed me my mask.

I set the alarm on my phone for ten o’clock, texted Fiona that I was here, and stepped out of the car. At the last second, I threw my coat back inside, then walked, sleeveless to the back door. I had my nerves to keep me warm.

The door creaked open as I approached, and Fiona’s arm snaked out, followed by her giggle.

I grabbed hold, and she yanked me inside. The back hallway was dark, only lit by her phone flashlight and a red exit sign glowing above us. The door clicked shut.