Page 10 of Becoming Cinderella

Now is the perfect time to tell Penn what Jared told me about liking her. About talking to her like I told him I would.

But I can’t. Not yet.

Not until I work with Liam and see if he’s able to help me make Jared forget about liking her.

“Uh, we kind of have a deal,” I tell her instead. I really hope I’m not supposed to keep our deal confidential. Best friends are exceptions to secrets anyway, so I think it should be fine.

“Mmhmm,” she nods her head like she understands. “Right. Of course. My best friend just walks into my house with the hottest guy in the world and I’m just supposed to accept that explanation.”

I glance at the door to double check that Liam hasn’t suddenly appeared. “You know how I helped him escape the store?” Now I’m whispering, but I’m not sure why. It’s not like Liam isn’t the one who came up with our little deal. I wait for Penn’s confirmation that she remembers as if it wasn’t yesterday before I continue. “He might have overheard a conversation Jared and I were having that made him believe I liked him.” The details I’m giving her are vague, but hopefully she doesn’t press it further. “Well, we escaped to the studio, where he found out I’m a dancer. Turns out he’s real nervous for the big dance scene in the movie, so he came back today to strike up a deal.”

Penn is hanging onto every word I say. “Which is?”

“He’s going to set up these rom-com worthy situations for Jared and I to help him fall in love with me. In return, I’m going to help him prep for his dance scene.”

Penn quietly claps her hands in delight. “What if you and Liam start dating?” Penn’s smile grows as she pictures it in her head.

“Whoa, Penn. This is Liam Taylor, remember? He’s helping me with Jared. That’s all this is.”

“Carter,” she gives me a look like she doesn’t believe me. “This is Liam Taylor we’re talking about. You know, the same guy we spend hours watching videos of?”

“I know, I know. But he’s also a huge Hollywood star. We’re talking about Jared, the guy I’ve been in love with for five years. He’s end game.”

Penn’s shoulders sag.

“Can we talk about this later? Liam is probably wondering where we are.” I open Penn’s bedroom door to leave when she grabs my elbow to stop me.

“You know you shouldn’t have to change yourself for a guy, right? You’re perfect the way you are.”

“I’m not changing myself. Liam is just helping me not be a side character to my own story.”

“The right guy will see how incredible you are without having to do any of this.”

I raise an eyebrow at her. “Penn, they’re teenage boys. I think they can use a push every once in a while.”

Penn drops her hand from my elbow with a sigh. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

“Now come on, Liam is definitely finished chopping tomatoes by now.”

We go downstairs to find Penn’s eleven-year-old brother talking with Liam.

“Callum, out.” Penn points into the hallway we just came from.

“What? I’m just talking to your friend.” Callum objects, but leaves the kitchen anyway.

“Sorry about him. So, Liam, how are you liking Utah so far?” Penn asks as I take a seat at the counter across from where Liam is standing.

Penn and I listen to Liam, hanging on his every word as he fills us in on the making of Cinderella thus far.

After Liam and I help Penn clean up dinner, Liam follows me to my house to work out the details of our deal.

At my house I have us sit on the front porch. I know my parents are inside and I don’t really want to have to explain why a Hollywood A-lister is in our living room. Hey Mom and Dad, this is Liam Taylor, you know the really popular celebrity? He’s helping me get Jared to fall in love with me and I’m going to teach him to dance. Isn’t that great?

It’s not that I’m trying to keep it a secret from them. There will just be less questions and concerns this way. Plus, I can’t even risk the chance of Liam seeing my bedroom, and the fact it’s basically a shrine to him.

I sit on the steps that lead to the porch and Liam sits next to me. I catch a hint of mint and it’s so different than Jared’s fresh laundry scent, but it’s…nice. Not wanting to get caught smelling him like some rabid fan, I pull back slightly and say, “alright, you’re the mastermind here. How do we do this?”

“Turn you into a real-life leading lady and me into a Prince Charming who won’t break all of Cinderella’s toes? Fortunately, the dance scene is one of the last scenes scheduled for filming.”

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