Page 58 of The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back

"I know. Okay, I need my phone back. Trent and I have plans today."

"Of the smooching kind?"

She giggled. "Like you're one to talk."

Oh my Buddha, I could have smooching plans today.Stop it¸ I told myself. One thing at a time. I got Ella's phone for her.

"You're not going to wear your glasses?"

Out of instinct, I reached up to touch my face and was surprised to see that I wasn't wearing my favorite accessory. I hadn't even thought about putting them back on. I hadn't missed them. I didn't need them anymore. "No more masks."

I got the car keys from my father, who had the decency to not ask me what had happened last night, and the British GPS lady helped me drive over to Jake's house.

It wasn't actually a house. A house would have fit into one small corner of the castle Jake apparently called home. I was not exaggerating. He had actual turrets on his house with gray stone all over the walls. It had huge windows and the biggest front door I had ever seen in my life. I wondered if he'd ever had a peasants with pitchforks problem. It surprised me that they had failed to install a moat. I pulled up into the semi-circle driveway and parked.

I stood at the enormous door for an embarrassing amount of time before I summoned up the courage to ring the bell.

I heard Jake saying something. I think he was telling me to hold on. I could hear his dog barking in the backyard, but he stopped after a few seconds.

Jake finally opened the door, and seemed a little out of breath. He was wearing a long sleeved button up shirt, with the arms rolled up to his elbows. He had on a sweater vest and jeans. It reminded me of something, but he was too pretty for me to think clearly.

"I'm glad you're here. Come in."

I stayed put. "Are your parents home?" I was worried that they might blame me for Jake's plans the way that Pearl had blamed him. I wasn't in the mood to be drawn and quartered.

"My dad took the jet out to Mexico this morning with my mom. He decided he needed a weekend vacation away from me and my 'poor decisions.'"

I heard music coming from somewhere as I stepped into the foyer. "I know what you're going through. I told my parents about my manga and college."

"Oh yeah? How did that go?"

"My mother reacted pretty much how I expected. I don't think she and I will be talking anytime soon. My father was sort of amazing about it. He knows a guy who knows a guy who used to work for Tokyopop and might be able to use his connections to help me get an internship."

"So, maybe I was right and you should have told him sooner?"

I rolled my eyes while he laughed. "Yes, you were right. I should have."

Jake's hands were in his pockets. "Want to go sit down?" I nodded and he led me into a small formal room with a couch and two chairs. I sat in one chair; he sat across from me.

"Do you need anything to drink?"

"No, I'm fine. Thanks." What I needed was for him to get on with it before my heart exploded in anticipation. He had said he wanted to talk.

"I didn't get a chance to tell you last night, but I like your hair that color. It looks nice. Not that I didn't like it before. I did. I just like it now, too." He sounded very un-Jake-like. He sounded nervous.

"Thanks."

"I can't believe I didn't recognize you. I wish I had known it was you."

Well, that would have defeated the entire purpose. "Why?"

"Because we would have had fun." His perfect smile nearly blinded me. I looked out the window for a second before looking back at him. Part of me had expected him to be angry. He had every right to be mad. I had basically set out to trick him. I didn't know exactly what Ella said to him, but whatever it was, it worked. If he was willing to forgive and forget, I should be willing to do the same.

"Hey, I have something for you." He got up and walked out of sight, returning a minute later. He had my phone. Right as he got to me, the phone slipped out of his hands and landed near my feet. I reached forward to get it, but Jake knelt down and picked the phone up. He handed it to me, and the sight of him took my breath away. I thanked him and took it with shaking hands. He wasn't having me try on a glass slipper, but for some strange reason, I finally understood exactly why Cinderella ran off with the prince after having only known him for one night. Having a hot guy kneeling in front of you is sort of intoxicating.

He got up and returned to his chair. He exhaled loudly while he rubbed his hands over his pants legs. He smiled again. "Okay. I asked you over here because I, uh, wanted to talk to you. So, first off, you know I didn't write that speech yesterday, right?"

I did know it. "Yes."

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