Page 60 of Fourth and Long

I nod and try to appear relaxed. “It ruins the disguise if I wear it to the Grammys.”

“Ah, yes.” She sinks into the chair next to me. “It must have been exciting to watch Amber win so many awards.” She smiles. “She killed the opening number.”

“It was and she did. She’s always at her best when the lights are brightest.” Unlike me.

“You need to get ready.” Kelsey’s raised voice interrupts us.

“I’m wearing a suit.” Cam looks at his watch. “And I’ve still got thirty minutes.”

“Your tux is upstairs,” Kelsey responds with a pointed look. “Go get changed.”

Cam sighs as he unfolds himself from his chair. “Remind me where we’re going tonight?”

“Does it matter? I already said we’d go, so we don’t have a choice now.” She swats his ass. “But if it makes you feel better, it’s for charity.”

Cam looks at me. “My life was simpler before I got married.”

Kelsey taps her shoe. “If you don’t get changed, it’s going to get simpler again.”

“I’m going. I’m going.” He nods at me. “Let’s meet in the morning—at the office.”

Kelsey follows him out of the room.

“You’re visiting,” I say inanely when Ellie and I are alone. I have no game at all. None.

“Yep.” The bland smile stays fixed on her face, and I kind of hate it.

“But you’re not going out with Kelsey and Cam.”

“Nope. I don’t attend events.”

“Events?” I ask, unsure of what she means.

“They’re going to a fancy benefit. Kelsey is a model. She likes attention while I prefer a quieter life.”

I nod. It hardly comes as a surprise that she isn’t interested in the glamor that comes with being a celebrity. “What are you going to do tonight?”

She shrugs and toys with the string on her hoodie.

“Do you want to have dinner?” The words burst out of my mouth. I can’t hold them back any longer.

She blinks as if I’ve shocked her. “At a restaurant? In public? Dressed like that?” She wiggles her fingers at my attire. “Nooooo, thank you.”

I look down at my slim pants and collared shirt.

“I’ll have you know, this is Armani,” I say with mock seriousness.

She snorts and shakes her head, but her smile finally looks real. I feel lighter than I have felt in days.

“It’s very nice,” she says slowly. “But you’re as big of a celebrity as my sister, and there’s no way for you to hide when you look like that.”

I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. “We could order in.” I desperately want to have dinner with her. I’m concerned by this development, but not concerned enough to change my mind.

“A cozy dinner for two in my sister’s house—I don’t think so.”

“I’m staying at Amber’s. It isn’t far from here. You could come over. We could order some food and…” We were supposed to be a one-night stand, so I trail off, but I hope she hears what I’m not saying.

She tips her head to the side. “I thought you never stay with Amber?”