Lies I Told(37)

When the house came into view, I saw that the space in front of the garage was already lined with cars. There was a BMW, a Mercedes, an Audi, and a Saab similar to the one Parker and I shared. I’d offered to give Selena a ride, but she’d been dropped off early by her dad, who had insisted on meeting Logan’s parents before he would allow Selena to come over.

Parker pulled next to a red BMW and we got out of the car. I expected to hear music thumping from the house, but it was quiet.

I led Parker to the front door, where we waited for Logan to respond to our knock. He appeared a minute later in khaki shorts and a navy button-down with the sleeves rolled to the elbow. He looked both pulled together and casual, and I had a sudden attack of insecurity, wondering if the long skirt and drapey tank I’d worn were too much. Then his eyes lit up at the sight of me, and all my worry disappeared.

“There you are!” He took my hand and pulled me inside, wrapping me in a hug. When he pulled away, he kept one arm possessively around my shoulder. I stuffed down a rush of pure unadulterated happiness as he gave Parker a casual handshake. “Glad you could make it, man.”

Parker nodded. “Thanks for the invite.”

Logan shut the door and turned to the alarm keypad. I caught Parker’s eye as he tried to glance casually over Logan’s shoulder. A second later he gave a small shake of his head, and I knew he hadn’t gotten the code. I was both disappointed and relieved.

Logan led us upstairs. I didn’t hear anything until we turned the corner into the media room. Music played softly from a sound system set into the wall while Rachel, Harper, and Olivia sat on one of the sofas, talking quietly. Across the room, Selena was playing Cards Against Humanity with Raj, David, and Liam. I don’t know what I’d expected. Rich kids raging? Doing drugs? Puking on the floors?

Rachel glanced up at me. I avoided her eyes, thinking about the lost ID.

“Can I get you a beer?” Logan asked.

“Sure,” Parker said.

I nodded. “Thanks.”

Logan crossed to a refrigerator underneath the bar and pulled out two bottles of Corona. We were all underage, but that didn’t mean anything. Not in Playa Hermosa and not anywhere else I’d gone to school. Alcohol was a given at high school parties, and as parties went, this one was pretty mild.

Logan gave us our beers, and Parker ambled over to Selena and the guys.

“Want to play Cards?” Logan asked.

I loved Cards Against Humanity, but I couldn’t keep avoiding Rachel. It only made my paranoia worse. Besides, she might not have found the ID at all. True, I’d had it when I went into AP Euro. But we’d been in the hall afterward. People had been shoving past us on their way to class. It could have fallen out of my pocket, been swept up in the mountains of stuff that collected under lockers and behind trash cans every day of the week in any high school.

“Actually, I think I’ll talk to the girls for a bit.” I smiled. “You go ahead. I know where to find you.”

He leaned down, touched his lips gently to mine, and a shiver worked its way up my spine.

“Get a room!” Raj called out.

We laughed, and I headed over to the sofa where Rachel and the other girls were sitting.

Olivia smiled up at me. “Hey, Grace.”

“Hey. What’s up?”

“We were just talking about prom. We’re fighting an uphill battle against a Hearts in Atlantis theme. You should join the committee.” She turned to Rachel. “Right, Rach?”

Rachel attempted a smile. “We can use all the help we can get.”

I didn’t want to join prom committee. Didn’t want to plan for a dance that I’d probably never attend. A dance where Logan would lace his hands across the small of some other girl’s back as they swayed to the music in a dimly lit room.

“Hearts in Atlantis sounds super cheesy,” I agreed. “What else is up for discussion?”

“Let’s see . . .” Harper thought about it. “There’s Moonlit Forest.”

“And Bon Voyage,” Olivia added.

I raised my eyebrows. “Bon Voyage?”

“I think it’s nautical or something,” Rachel said dismissively.

“Buoys and anchors and sailor suits?” I laughed. “Sounds awful.”

Olivia nodded. “Right?”

“Moonlit Forest could be nice.” I hesitated. “Or . . .”

“What?” Harper asked. “Do you have an idea?”

“What about Midnight in Paris?” I suggested. “Like the movie?”

It wasn’t really my idea. Our school in Phoenix had done a Midnight in Paris theme for prom. It had been romantic despite the fact that I was working a mark named Bradley, keeping him busy while Parker got his sister drunk in an attempt to find out the combo to the family safe holding their mother’s jewelry.

“Oh, my God, I love that movie!” Olivia said.

“Paris is always romantic,” Harper said. “Plus, with the movie tie-in, you have the 1920s to play with, too.”

“That’s true!” I sounded surprised, even though some of the kids in Phoenix had shown up in Gatsby-esque dresses and tuxes.

“See?” Olivia said. “You should join the committee. We need fresh ideas.”

For a split second I could see it: brainstorming ideas for the dance, laughing and hanging white lights, getting dressed and putting on makeup together before the guys picked us up in a limo.