Page 26 (1/2)

Tears cas together "I’rowled His hand squeezed her bare thigh

Ben was getting closer and closer to her underwear When they were dating, they hadn’t even gotten this far Emily bit her lip so hard, she was certain she drew blood She was about to give in and tell hih her Let Ben think what he wanted Let him tell the whole school No way could he do this to her

She pressed her body up against the wall for leverage Then she brought up her knee and angled it toward Ben’s crotch Hard

"Uff!" Ben stepped away, holding his groin A tiny, babyish wail caasped

Eer coursed through her like a drug "I swear to God"

Ben staggered backward and hit the far wall His knees buckled, and he slid down until he was sitting on the floor "Bad, bad move"

"Whatever," E, fast, confident strides She wouldn’t let hie of tears

"Hey" Sorabbed Emily’s arm When Emily’s eyes focused, she realized it was Maya

"I just saw the whole thing," Maya whispered, nudging her chin to where Ben was still crouched "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Eht She tried to hold it together, but she couldn’t She leaned against the wall and covered her face with her hands If she just counted to ten, she could get through this One…two…three…

Maya touched Emily’s ared, her face still covered Eight…nine…ten She took her hands away and straightened up "I’eisha-style dress She looked so much prettier than all of the blond, French-twisted, Chanel clones she’d seen on her way in She ran her hands along the sides of her own dress, wondering if Maya was checking her out too "I…I should probably get back to my date," Emily stammered

Maya took a tiny step to the side Only Emily couldn’t move an inch

"I have a secret for you before you go," Maya said

Emily came closer and Maya leaned into Emily’s ear Her lips didn’t touch it, but they were so close Tingles shot up Emily’s back, and she heard herself breathe in sharply It wasn’t right to respond this way, but she just…couldn’t…help it

Go to the one you really love

"I’ll wait for you," Maya whispered, her voice a little sad and a lot sexy "However long it takes"

25

THE SURREAL LIFE, STARRING HANNA MARIN

Saturday night, Hanna rode the elevator up to her suite at the Philadelphia Four Seasons, feeling taut, loose, and glowing She’d just had a lee, and a Kissed by the Sun tanning treathtly less stressed That, and being away from Rosewood…and A

Hopefully she ay from A

She unlocked the door to their two-bedroo on the couch in the front room "Hey" He stood up "Hoas it?"

"Wonderful" Hanna beamed at him, overcome with both happiness and sadness at once She wanted to tell hiether--and yet, she knew her future with hi out stuff to Naomi and Riley yesterday would keep her safe, but what if it didn’t? Maybe she should just tell hiot to hiether and looked at the carpet bashfully "Well, I have to shower really fast if we’re going to make it to Le Bec-Fin"

"Just a sec" Her dad stood up "I have another surprise for you"

On instinct, Hanna looked at her dad’s hands, hoping he was holding a gift for her Maybe it was so toin his hand was his cell phone

Then ca suite "To the blood drain from her head She knew that voice

"Kate and Isabel are here," her father whispered excitedly "They’re co to see Mamma Mia! Didn’t you say Thursday that you wanted to see that?"

"Wait!" Hanna blocked hiot to the door "You invited them?"

"Yes" Her father looked at her crazily "Who else would have?"

A, Hanna thought It see to just be you and me"

"I never said that"

Hanna frowned Yes, he had Hadn’t he?

"Tom?" Kate’s voice called Hanna was relieved that Kate called her dad Torip on her dad’s wrist

Her father hesitated at the door, his eyes flickering back and forth aardly "But, I ht this would be nice"