Page 91 of All That Glitters
“What about hopelessly awkward best friends?”
The smile on her face only broadened. “They can’t plead the Fifth either.”
“There has to be something, so I don’t keep blathering like an idiot.”
“Nope. Fess up, Harding,” she said playfully. “You were checking out my legs.”
“Okay, guilty,” he said, a furious blush coloring his cheeks.
Debbie did a double-take. “I just made you blush.”
“Stop it,” he laughed, trying to wipe the color from his cheeks.
“No way,” she said, playfully nudging against him. “I did. I made you blush.”
“Did not,” he protested, nudging her back.
“Did too.” She nudged him right back.
“Okay, fine,” he conceded. “It’s just... I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a dress before.”
She looked down at her dress, then back at him. “You like it?”
“You mean the blush and my jaw hitting the floor didn’t answer that?”
Now it was her turn to blush.
“Now, look who’s blushing,” he teased.
She bit her lip and playfully swatted his arm, but there was something almost shy in her eyes as she looked back at him.
“Seriously, Deb, you look awesome.” He was no longer trying to hide the admiration in his eyes. “I mean, really awesome.”
She swallowed, her cheeks warming even more at the way he was looking at her. “Thank you.” Her voice was almost a whisper. She fidgeted nervously with her fingers. It was time to just go for it.
“I love you, Tony,” she said softly. “I mean, I’m in love with you.”
Before Tony could respond, Eli’s voice hollered down from the top of the stairs. “Tony?”
Tony and Debbie both looked over to see Eli heading down the steps.
“Down here,” Tony called out. “And by the way, your timing sucks.”
Eli reached the bottom of the steps, coming to a screeching stop. “Sorry,” he said, his eyes going from Tony to Debbie, then back to Tony. “There’s a news crew upstairs looking for you.”
With a groan, Tony turned to Debbie. “I gotta go do this,” he said, his voice full of apology. “Can we meet out by the pool after I’m done?”
She nodded, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes, but still hopeful. “Okay.”
Tony followed Eli out of the cellar and into the noisy ballroom. Carrie spotted them and walked over.
“Did you talk to her yet?” she asked Tony.
He shook his head. “I was about to, then he showed up,” Tony said, nodding to Eli.
Carrie shot Eli a small frown. “Eli. He was about to tell his friend he loves her.”
“He was?” Eli said, then turned to Tony. “You were?”
