Page 78 of Anyone But the Superstar

So while I know it’s stylish – because Susan, the head of womenswear at Moore’s wouldn’t send me anything less than the latest fashion – I wonder if Felix is worried that the color is too much, or that the slip underneath isn’t demure enough under the open-work lace. I touch the hem that hits me at mid-thigh. Or maybe he thinks it’s too short?

I fight back the sick feeling of self-consciousness that I’m all too familiar with.

No. Felix isn’t like my father. He wouldn’t be worried that my appearance or actions will reflect badly on him. He likes me. The real me. He said so.

I peek back up at him, and when I do, he’s smiling.

Huh. I must be letting my insecurities get to me.

Standing, Felix’s navy slacks drape perfectly over his burnished brown dress shoes. ‘You look beautiful.’

‘Thank you.’ Annoyed at myself for being so needy, I clear my throat and give him an exaggerated once-over. His well-cut trousers and textured white button-down remind me of my brothers and their impeccable style. Though Felix leans more towards Chase’s laid-back elegance rather than Thomas’ exacting formality. ‘You clean up nice yourself.’

He chuckles, but it doesn’t seem to reach his eyes. ‘All part of the job.’

Still feeling oddly tense, I nod. ‘Yeah, I get that.’

He tilts his head, eyes on mine. ‘You do?’

‘Yeah, I—’ Having stepped forward, I pull up short, stopping myself physically and verbally. I’d been about to mention the many galas I’ve attended and hosted over the years. And explain about all the dresses I’ve worn that have felt like costumes. The enumerable feigned smiles and forced laughs that were all partof an act to keep my father happy. To fit in as a Moore. ‘I just do,’ I finish lamely, tossing my hands up and dropping them back to my sides, promising myself that tonight, after dinner, when I have more time, I’ll tell him how I understand. Tell him my name and what that name means in certain New York circles.

I should’ve told himbeforewe slept together, but now that we have, I definitely need to. I want to.

I’ll even tell him about my sister. And my father. Myrealfather.

Decision made, I feel lighter than I have in a long time.

I continue forward again, this time to wrap my arms around him, when Felix’s phone rings.

Phone still in hand, he looks at the screen before glancing at me. ‘My mother.’

‘Oh.’ It will be nice to say hi again. Show Sofia a more put-together version of myself. ‘Let’s?—’

‘I’ll take it in my room.’ With a smile just as stiff as his walk, he moves past me.

‘Uh, okay.’ But by the time I recover enough to speak, the door to his room has already closed.

Felix

Three thousand nine hundred and ninety dollars.

That’s how much Anne’s dress costs.

‘Thank you so much for having me.’ Anne smiles brightly at astronaut Vance Bodaway, our host for the night, as he ushers us into his home. ‘I hadn’t known until we pulled into the driveway that the dinner was at your house.’ She looks around at the not-quite-a-mansion-but-more-than-a-house. ‘Which is stunning, by the way.’

‘Thanks. The credit all goes to my wife, Rose.’ Vance takes Anne’s hand in both of his. ‘I’ve heard a lot about you.’ He steps back and scans the floor around our feet. ‘But where’s the infamous cat?’

Anne’s eyes cut to mine, but I ignore them just as I’ve avoided her gaze since we left the condo. ‘I thought it best if we left Mike with the chauffeur and simply went out to check on him once in a while. I didn’t want any, uh, problems occurring in your home.’ She glances at me again, but my eyes remain fixed on Vance.

On the ride over, I avoided her by feigning interest in my phone while she held Mike on her lap. And while a thread of guilt wound its way around the knot of suspicion already lodged in my chest, I covertly scanned social media for any new leaked information or gossip.

‘He’d be no problem at all.’ Vance leads us through the twenty-something-foot ceilinged foyer and into an open living room/kitchen. ‘We put our dogs out back, and no one’s said they’re afraid of itty-bitty house cats—’ he laughs like the very idea’s preposterous ‘—so if you wanted to bring Mike inside later, that would be fine.’

I glare at the marble floor, mumbling under my breath. ‘I wouldn’t exactly call Mike itty-bitty.’

Anne, the only one who seems to have heard, rolls her lips before nodding at Vance. ‘Thank you.’

‘Howdy!’

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