Page 56 of #Starstruck

“Didn’t anybody teach you that you have to suffer to be beautiful? That’s what Epsom salts and warm water are for.”

Lexi insisted on helping me pick the perfect lipstick shade from her vast collection of pink tackle boxes. And then she touched up my mascara. And added a bit more blush. Until I got annoyed, and she backed off. “Okay, okay. I’m done. And might I just add, you are smoking hot.”

The only way I’d ever be smoking hot is if I were cremated, but I loved her for saying it.

At least somebody thought I was hot.

“I have a cute silver clutch you can borrow, if you want. I’ll be right back.”

There was a knock at the front door, and for a brief moment I panicked, thinking it was Chase. But he said he’d send a car for me. The driver? I rushed to the front door, determined to get there before Lexi.

It turned out to be Gavin. He let out a low whistle. “You clean up nice, Miller. You are going to give that guy from work a heart attack.”

Lexi ran into the room and leaped into Gavin’s arms to shower his face with kisses. “What are you doing here?”

“I was hungry, and I remembered you also sometimes eat food, and I thought we could check out that new Brazilian steakhouse.”

Her mood shifted from happy and excited to annoyed and let down. Probably because of her new cleanse that didn’t allow protein. “Ugh, you know I’m not eating anything with a face for the next two weeks.”

“They cut that off before they bring it to you,” he said, taking his customary spot on the couch and getting out his phone. He and Lexi went back and forth, suggesting names of restaurants, but they couldn’t decide on a good compromise.

Lexi got on my laptop, which I’d left on the kitchen counter, and opened a browser window. I expected her to look for more restaurants, but instead she did a search for “Chase Covington.”

“Hey, look at that.” She pointed at the screen. “Chase’s friend Austin Adams is getting married today, too. Chase is supposed to be one of his groomsmen. I hope somebody publishes the pictures. Because, seriously, how hot is Chase?” Her voice rose with the last sentence, making it obvious that her observation was for Gavin’s benefit.

“Depends on what you use to ignite him with,” Gavin replied, not the least bit fazed.

“It’s good to make them a little jealous,” she whispered to me. “You don’t want them to forget how good they have it.” Given her boyfriend’s lack of response, I didn’t think her plan had worked.

My phone buzzed, and it was a text from an unknown number. “Looks like my ride is here.”

“Here’s the clutch. Take this lip gloss so you can reapply, and I want to lend you these.” She held out a pair of diamond solitaire earrings that had once belonged to her mother.

“Lexi, I can’t. What if I lose them?”

“You won’t. Every girl needs a little bit of sparkle when she gets dressed up.”

Knowing Lexi would not take no for an answer, I accepted and put them on. Then I transferred everything I needed from my regular purse—keys, tissues, lip gloss, a couple of credit cards, driver’s license, some cash, and my cell phone.

And a tin of mints. Because apparently I was a glutton for disappointment.

I said my goodbyes and headed downstairs, where a chauffeur in a suit waited for me. He opened the rear door of the black town car to let me in. After he greeted me, he said, “There’s been a change of plans, and I’m going to drive you directly to the wedding.”

“Oh. Okay. Thanks.” The driver shut the door behind me after I’d carefully climbed in.

Chase had said he’d have the driver take me to his house and we’d head to the wedding together. I got my phone out, intending to text him and ask what was going on, and I saw his last text again.

That same shivery, warm, delicious ache started all over again.

I so wanted him to be serious. For this to be a real thing and not something I’d blown way out of proportion.

Although the thought of making him burn scared me just a little.

Because if Chase burned, I knew I’d be consumed.

I knew some details about the wedding because I’d looked it up. Austin Adams had met Chase onNo More, No Less, where he’d played Chase’s next-door neighbor. His part got bigger and bigger as the showrunners realized how much talent he had and how much the audience loved him. He had stayed on television, easily transitioning from child to adult actor.

His bride to be, Marisol, was a makeup artist on his most recent show, a medical drama that had been on the air for about five years. The entertainment magazines kept calling this a “Cinderella wedding” because the bride wasn’t famous.

---