Page 14 of My Twin Sister's Extremely Famous and Incredibly Hot Neighbor

I slide into the seat, the buttery softness enveloping me. Is this what luxury is? No wonder Jera loves being rich. I could get used to this.

Dustin pulls out a baseball cap and pair of sunglasses and slips them on. I’m so stupid. I didn’t even bring anything to shield my face. After he slides into the driver’s seat, I lean toward him. “I forgot my hat and glasses. Can I borrow some from you?”

“Sure.” He runs into his house and comes back several moments later. He hands me a canvas bag with several things to choose from. I pull out a grey cap with “Swiftie” on it and turn to him with my eyebrows raised. “You’re a Swiftie?”

He grins. “Don’t tell anyone.”

I laugh and put it on my head. “Don’t worry, I like her music, too. Your secret is safe with me.”

Dustin starts his car and I barely hear the purr of the motor. I love the way the wind whips my hair and how the sun warms my skin as we drive. Squint must like it too because he happily barks at the wind.

We turn a corner and Dustin glances at me. “What kind of music do you like? You mentioned Taylor Swift. Do you mostly listen to pop music?”

“I like all kinds of music. I can jam out to pop music, or just as easily rock out to old school rock and roll. I enjoy a good country song as well.”

“What about Broadway?”

I smile. “I like those, too. Especially the old Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals.”

“Nice.” He slows for a light. “Who in Hollywood have you been most excited to meet?”

I can’t answer that question, so I turn a cheesy grin on him. “You.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “No, seriously. Who?”

He’s pinning me down, and I can’t think of anything to say. And then a conversation I had with Jera once pops into my head. “Actually, there is someone I’d love to meet, but sadly, it’s impossible now.”

“Oh? Who?”

“Cary Grant.” My sister loved all the old movies he was in. She would have loved to meet him when he was alive.

“Ah, yes. He was a legend, that’s for sure.”

I see the art store ahead, and I point it out. Dustin pulls into the parking lot. My anxiety ramps up as we get out of the car. I’m not a shopper or a crowd person. But luckily, the parking lot seems fairly empty. I tell myself it’s going to be fine.

As we walk into the store, Dustin leans close to me. “Do you do this often?”

“Do what?”

“You know, go out in public.” He whispers it like it’s some deep, dark secret.

I laugh before I can help myself. I grab a shopping cart as Squint peeks out at the other shoppers. “Only when I have to.”

He nods like he knows what I mean, but it’s funny because he doesn’t know at all.

“I think we’ll be fine,” I say, my voice low. “I don’t know too many paparazzi that hang out at Blick Art Supplies.” I grin at him as we turn down the watercolor aisle.

A young girl squeals as we approach her, and Dustin hides his face, but the girl points to Squint. “Where did you get him? He’s so cute!”

“He’s a rescue.”

The girl coos a bit at Squint before going off to find her parents. Dustin slowly nods at me. “I can see now why you carry your dog with you. Brilliant.”

That’s totally not why, but I nod and smile anyway. I fill the shopping cart with my dream set of paints, brushes, and watercolor paper. It’s going to be a hefty bill, but Jera said she’d buy me all new ones. I only feel slightly guilty about it. I am, after all, going to this gala for her. And doing some kind of photo shoot thing. I pray my phone works soon so I can get those details from her.

Dustin peers into my cart. “Why do you need so many brushes?”

“I teach—” I cut myself off, but it’s too late.

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