OVERPROTECTED by Jennifer Laurens Page A

rounded a corner, nearly bumping into Danicka and the skeletons.

    “I’ve been looking for you,” Danicka said.

    “Me?”

    “What’s your cell number? I want to invite you to a party I’m having this weekend at Ninety-Nine. You’ve heard of it, right?”

    Who hadn’t? For being seen by anyone who was someone important, Ninety-Nine was the current place for five-star hooking up. Or so I’d heard. “Yeah.”

    “It’s gonna rock. What’s your number?” She held out her diamond-encased cell phone.

    If I gave her my number Daddy would blow a fuse. He’d make me delete her later, after a thorough background check, and he’d wonder what I was doing even talking to someone as celebutante as Danicka.

    I recited my phone number.

    “K. Cool. I’ll text you later.” She swung away, hips swaying in unison with her runway friends as they strolled down the hall.

    “She never stays here for lunch,” I mumbled.

    Felicity shrugged. “Guess she’s decided to have Colin for lunch.”

    An image of Danicka seducing Colin flashed in my head, causing surges of jealousy to vibrate through me. I wanted to slap myself for caring, for being jealous, for having him suddenly in my life—a distraction so overwhelming, five minutes didn’t go by that his name didn’t whisper into my consciousness.

    “Your Dad’s going to pee his pants,” Felicity whispered, laughed.

    “Yeah.” He’d do more than that if he found out about Danicka’s party. But going would be the gutsiest thing I’d ever done.

    <> <> <>

    Danicka texted me on the drive home. I angled my cell phone screen so Colin, if he was looking, and I was sure he wasn’t, wouldn’t be able to read it.

    so this sat, 99 @10 u kno where it is?
    Ya
    cool. will colin b coming?
    The real reason she was inviting me.

    um yeah.
    cooool he’s soooo hot.

    I grinned. I couldn’t wait to see her face when I walked into her party—alone.

    i’ll leave ur name with Carlos – the doorman. K? cu then.
    I deleted the thread of texts. Daddy regularly asked to see my phone—an irritation that sent injustice screaming through my head.

    I sighed.

    The days before Friday dragged. I couldn’t stop thinking about how fun it was going to be alone at Ninety-Nine. I imagined dancing with hot guys, being the center of attention in the center of the dance floor. I stopped talking to Felicity about it, because she kept reminding me Daddy would blow an artery. I didn’t care. I wondered if she was jealous, and I felt bad. We both knew Danicka would never invite her to one of her parties, and Felicity didn’t have Colin as bait.

    I did. If that was enough to open a door, I’d take it. The excursion wasn’t so much about the party as it was about being out on my own. I was navigating the entire evening myself. I would ditch the bookstore, and Colin, go to the party and return to the bookstore before it closed.

    When Friday night finally came, I put my plan into action. After dinner, I dressed in sheer leggings, a skinny black turtleneck and a pair black boots and a ruffled plaid French skirt. I sprayed on some perfume and went in search of Colin.

    Music overhead signaled that he was in his bedroom. I took the stairs up and knocked on his door.

    “Hold on.” Seconds later, the door swung open and Colin, dressed in jeans and a well-worn baby blue sweatshirt with the remnants of California silk-screened on the chest, greeted me. “Hey.”

    His gaze swept me from boots to head. “We going somewhere?”

    “Yeah. Barnes & Noble. I need to pick up something.”

    He seemed to ponder my words. “Sure. Give me a minute.”

    “Meet downstairs?”

    He nodded and shut the door. Thrill quickened my steps down to the main entry where I waited.

    Step one—done.

    The townhouse was its usual tomb-like quiet. Friday night meant Mother and Daddy were out together at a restaurant or dinner party.

    Tonight was my night.

    I did a double take when Colin came down the stairs.