Page 70 of Dare (Fighting Fate)

“She speaks from experience,” I added, smirking Amber’s way.

Passing Mae back to Amy, I gave Amber a quick hug, unable to stop myself from pinning her with a teasing look of warning. “And you’re in trouble,” I said. “For breaking the bitch code.”

Her eyes narrowed with confusion, but as I continued to stare at her, my eyebrow slowly creeping upward, understanding dawned in her gaze. Sheepishly, she grinned. “Ah . . . yep.”

Fortunately for her, I didn’t have time to press the issue, because it was right then that Aiden and Emmy walked in, Daniel, Corey, and Cain at their heels.

Aiden raised his hands in the air and slowly turned around. “The party can start now,” he yelled. “I’m here.”

Shaking my head, I smiled. This was exactly why I loved my friends the way I did. I didn’t care how many people I met in my life from now on, none would ever compare to this.

Chapter 50

Eli

From the first time I found myself amongst Kaeli’s group of friends, I was intrigued. Of course, there were many people around who’d stayed friends with people they went to school with, but these guys just had an extra element that seemed to make their bond so much more meaningful. They looked out for one another just like a family would. And now I was a part of it. It was a nice feeling.

As Aiden continued to turn around with his hands in the air, Dean pushed forward and shook his head. “Dude, I’m the front man, remember?”

And then the real ribbing began. For as long as I’d known the guys, they’d always been like that. Some days it was just one massive pissing contest. I thought that was one of the reasons Josh always seemed to keep coming back to his roots. Because these roots might have been as crazy as shit, but they were honest and real—something that was severely lacking in all of their worlds.

It was then that I saw the movie star in question step in front of Jess and smile. “Hey, beautiful,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “It’s good to see you again. I hear life’s been busy for you since last time I saw you.” He glanced at me as he said the last part, and winked. “Hey, man. Good to see you finally came to your senses.”

I glanced at the ceiling with playful exasperation. “Oh my God. From the movie star too?”

“Make that two,” Josh said, handing both Jess and me a drink before jerking his head to the side.

Glancing beside him, I found myself face-to-face with Lucas Cantrell. Of course, I’d spoken to him over the phone when I’d been trying to secure his business for my interview with Studio Lawyers, but meeting him in the flesh was a whole new experience.

Offering him my hand, I gave him a genuine smile. “Nice to finally meet you,” I said, clasping his palm and shaking it. “I wanted to thank you again for agreeing to come over to Studio Lawyers. I’ll do everything within my power to make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow. “You came highly recommended, man, so I’m sure I’ll be happy.”

If I needed any sort of push to make me want to work harder than ever before, that was it. Glancing at Jess, I expected to find her in some state of excitement or awe over the pretty boy actor, but when I found her looking at him with a bland expression instead, I almost laughed.

Without changing her expression, she looked back at Josh and narrowed her eyes questioningly. “Is this what it’s come to, Josh? Is this what happens when you spend too much time in Hollywood? You lose your man card? Is this like when girls have to go to the bathroom in pairs? You’re a hot movie star now, so you have to go everywhere in pairs?” She glanced back over at Lucas’s amused face, letting her gaze roam over his whole form unabashedly. “Good choice, though. I approve. Nice to meet you by the way, Lucas.”

The corner of Josh’s mouth curled up before his gaze shifted back to me. “Do you actually realize what you’ve got yourself in for? Have fun with that.”

Oh, I realized, and there was nothing I’d change about it. “I do,” I said, pulling Jess into my arms. “Every day.”

Josh nodded his head toward the noisy pile of boys behind us. “Maybe you should give Dean some pointers. I hear he’s got some control problems with the new PA.”

Jess turned in my arms, watching Dean put Matt in a headlock. “Really? Emmy hasn’t said anything.”

Josh shrugged. “I think they all think if they ignore it, it will go away.”

I caught Lucas scratching his head from the corner of my eye. He looked more than a little amused with it all. Jess smirked at him. “Not a good tactic?” she asked, more teasing than anything else.

Lucas’s hand slid down his cheek, until it was rubbing over his chin. “No, no,” he said, only a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “It’s an awesome tactic if you’re dealing with a scandal—which we all know I’m no stranger to.”

Jess smirked. “Are you talking about all the women you’ve been bedding?”

He held up a finger. “Supposedly bedding,” he said. “Scandal, remember? Not always true.”

Josh chuckled and thumped Lucas on the back. “Normally, I’d call bullshit, but I have to agree with you on this one. The rags went all out with Date Night.”

“Date Night. That’s the new movie you’re making, isn’t it?” I said as Jess melted into my side a little more.

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