Page 19 of Love or Leave

"We don't tell Max."

She shot up in her bed like a vampire waking up. "You don't want to tell Max?"

"Absolutely not."

"Why?"

Antonio paused, seemingly weighing his response. Eventually he replied but completely ignored her question. "Do we have a deal?"

"Ugh," she said, annoyed that he wouldn't just tell her. She hated not knowing things. "Just a sec."

She put him on hold and tried to think. She couldn't go to the concert alone, but what would Jalen think of Antonio?

She brought up the image of Antonio in her mind, all smooth and steamy and well dressed, then laughed off her worry. One look at him, and Jalen would know they were just friends. He was so obviously way out of Cara's league. No one with hair that perfect and a jaw that chiselled was in her league.

She definitely wanted Antonio to come with her, but lying to Max wasn't something she did lightly.

Or at all.

And then there was the commitment to go to a family party with him. She didn't know what to expect from that.

She took him off hold. "What's this family party going to be like?"

"It's my parents' fortieth anniversary party. About a hundred people at La Tavola Club."

"So… fancy?"

"Yes."

Fuck.

"Just a sec."

"You don't have to put me on—"

She put him on hold again, then stewed over what would be the formal dress code, unfamiliar faces, and crowded ballroom. The whole scenario was puke-inducing.

Cara took him off hold. "Antonio?"

"I've never been put on hold in a normal conversation before."

Cara rolled her eyes. "I really want to say yes, but I'm not great at small talk in large, intimidating groups of strangers. You might want to find someone better."

He paused for a moment, as if thinking up his own move. Why did it feel like a game?

"Didn't you say you wanted to get out of your comfort zone?"

"Yes," she conceded. "But this feels like nuking my comfort zone."

"I just need to make an appearance. If it's too much, we'll bail. Do we have a deal?"

Cara squeezed her eyes shut as he threw the final blow. Yes or no. In or out.

She held her breath and took the proverbial leap. "Fine."

"Perfect," he said with a smile in his voice. She half expected him to say “check mate.”

"The party starts at six. Could you meet me at my place around five-thirty? I don't want anyone seeing me pick you up."

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