more aware of her underwearless state.
‘Depends what kind of dick you want to be,’ Gem replied, smooth as silk.
Why couldn’t she be like that?
He laughed at Gem and reached over to ruffle her hair. It was the wrong thing to try on a girl who’d just spend three hours perfecting those ringlets. He was met with a scowl that put the shits in her, never mind poor Zack.
‘So you’re that kind of dick,’ Gem said, 100% serious.
Ciara wondered if she’d have to referee an argument, but Zack just laughed. ‘Gemma, you should take a leaf out of your pal Ireland’s book and chill out a bit. Looks aren’t everything.’
‘So earlier you called me fat and now you’re calling me ugly?’ Ciara demanded, stung by his comment.
‘Girls,’ he mumbled shaking his head. Then he came closer, put his hands on her shoulders and turned her all the way around, too slowly. ‘I like what it hides, better than what it shows.’
He winked at her, then turned back to Gem. ‘You better drag Elle away from the mirror or you’ll be here all night.’
With that he was gone. His clean cut, slightly expensive scent still lingered, making her feel a bit dizzy.
‘Should I go up for her?’ she asked, when Gem just stared.
‘Oh. My. God. Elle’s hot cousin is totally into you.’ Gem’s voice was just a whisper, but her cheeks flamed when she thought of him hearing.
‘Get real, Gem. He’s way out of my league.’ And then some. But there had been a little flirting, hadn’t there? He did say her curves were sexy, her accent was adorable then sort of complimented her tonight. She got a glass out the cupboard and poured a mouthful of wine to distract herself.
‘You didn’t see the way he checked out your arse. I swear. He’s probably away to relieve himself with that image ingrained into his retinas.’
Ciara wrinkled her nose, but really. The thought of Zack on his bed, all naked and pleasuring himself to visions of her arse wasn’t off putting at all.
‘Don’t give me that, you’d totally nail him.’ Gem just wasn’t going to quit.
‘I wouldn’t, actually. If he was a random guy we met in a bar, I’d probably go back to his place but Zack is Elle’s cousin.’
Gem poured another drink. ‘Cousin, not brother and anyway it shouldn’t matter. We’re here for another day. Why not spend the night with him? You might learn something.’
‘I know plenty,’ she protested, smiling. ‘But it feels… weird.’
‘What does?’ Elle asked.
They both turned and, though Ciara was used to being outshone by Elle’s elegant, snow princess beauty, this time she was stunned. The dress Elle picked hugged her all the way to mid-thigh, where it broke off into strappy things that had studs on the ends. She looked like she should be walking down the red carpet with the other stars of the show, not arriving five minutes early to be escorted in the side entrance.
‘Zack’s got the hots for Ciara, and she wants him too.’
She was going to kill Gem.
‘Eww,’ Elle said. ‘Zack’s disgusting.’
Since Elle then rushed them to the door, Ciara didn’t think there would be any repercussions for lusting after her cousin. And during the limo ride they sipped champagne, listened to Rita Ora, reassured Elle that leaving her phone at home because it was out of charge was not the same as being without her liver, and debated over which of the actors would show up stag (of course Gem knew Aiden would). There was no mention of Zack, no change in the way Elle spoke to her and Ciara decided to forget Gem’s slip up, friend’s cousins she shouldn’t be thinking about and enjoy the fuzzy effects of the bubbly.
‘How fun would it be to show up late and walk down the red carpet? I bet E! would dig our dresses.’ Elle sighed.
‘I think we should stick to the plan. I don’t want to spend the night in jail,’ Ciara said, more because the thought of being on the red carpet with all the attention and flashing lights filled her with icy dread.
Gem and Elle grinned at each other, no doubt finding it funny because she was the only one out of the three of them that couldn’t afford the bail fee. ‘I mean it. I don’t want to repeat Easter Break.’
They burst into giggles, no doubt remembering the donkeys they ‘borrowed’ in Brighton to get back to the hotel instead of walking the extra half mile to the taxi rank in high heels.
‘Easter break was tame compared to what I have planned this summer. Relax, Ciara. We’ve just finished university after studying for the best part of our lives. We’re due some fun before we start real life,’ Elle said, reassuringly.
Ciara didn’t disagree. If only she could just go with the flow and stop worrying about the future.
***
‘Wait for it,’ Gem said to Elle.
Ciara would bet the rest of her savings on this latest scheme falling flat on its face but Elle and Gem were too determined to move onto the after party to be talked round.
‘Okay, go.’
Gem and Elle linked arms with her and pushed their way through the crowds of superstars to the weakest link – a group of supporting actors with minor roles. They were young, their eyes gaped when they saw the three of them and Ciara tried to hold her face in an expression Elle had assured her was sexy.
‘You were amazing,’ Elle purred in the oldest guy’s ear – though he couldn’t have been older than 19, 20 at a push. ‘Much better than that Aiden what’s-his-face. Sexier too.’
‘You girls English?’ the low-grade actor said. ‘That’s hot.’
And that was Ciara’s cue to keep her mouth shut. She didn’t have that well-bread, smouldering, Lady of the Manor thing going. She nodded with Gem.
‘We are, and we wondered if you three wanted to join us for a drink? Maybe go to a club?’ Elle asked, just like they’d planned.
‘Can’t,’ the gangly, younger looking guy said. His face was clearly plastered in make-up, giving a baked bean effect. Better than showing off the red spots, but not by much. ‘We’re heading to the after party but you girls are welcome to come with.’
Looked like Ciara would have been down her last few grand. She should never underestimate the power of Elle throwing off sex kitten vibes. They were escorted to another, bigger limo with lots more champagne. She didn’t have to worry about speaking in front of them. The guys only cared what Elle had to say anyway, and Gem seemed more interested in necking the Crystal at record breaking speed.
Her mind drifted to Zack, wondering if he was out in the city picking up gorgeous girl after gorgeous girl, just like these three actors were out to do.
But her mind was soon distracted when they got to
