No Place Like Homecoming, Dallen, Maggie [beach read book .TXT] 📗

the exception, of course. Everyone knew he was the ungettable get. The prize I’d been working toward. The last piece of the puzzle for my parents to finally realize that I had what it took to be in their world.

But some loser who worked for a catering company that worked kids birthday parties in the middle of nowhere?

Definitely not worth the effort.

“I think what Isla means,” Willow said slowly, doubt in her eyes as she cast me a funny look, “is that if he doesn’t see how amazing you are right now then he’s not good enough to be with you.”

I met Willow’s questioning look with a shrug. Yeah, sure. That worked too.

Savannah sighed as she came to stand beside me. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I think the new girl is right.” She wrapped an arm around Callie’s shoulders. “Guys like Roman aren’t worth your time.”

Savannah cast me another funny look, but this time I thought I understood it for what it was. Approval.

I was fairly certain they’d all missed the point, but whatever. That was what it came down to. Could Callie get any guy she wanted? Of course. But did she want to? Probably not. In my opinion, the end was rarely worth the sacrifice.

Was Logan worth it?

I drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

He’d better be.

He was all I had left. My last chance to have the sort of life my parents had.

There was no way on earth I’d let him screw this up just because I was temporarily off his radar.

“I’ll be right back, I just need to, um…”

No one was paying attention, so I ducked back out the front door and dialed Logan before I could second guess myself.

Six

Isla

Logan didn’t answer.

But I wasn’t worried. He was probably busy, that was all.

I went back inside and let Mrs. Messner ‘work her magic,’ as she put it. Her magic entailed braiding my hair and sticking me in a ridiculous and uncomfortable blue gingham dress. “Please tell me there won’t be a real live dog in this basket,” I said.

Mrs. Messner reached into a crate and held up a stuffed dog in triumph. “Too many kids have allergies these days,” she said. “We can’t do live animals anymore.”

“Plus, there were too many accidents, if you know what I mean,” Callie added under her breath. “We found out the hard way just how crazy these rich people can be when it comes to their white carpets.”

I gave a little snort-laugh that turned into a yelp as she yanked way too hard moving a piece of hair into place. “Ouch.”

“Sorry, dear,” Mrs. Messner sang in a cheerful voice. “But the better your costume, the better your tips.”

“Yeah, about that,” I started. “How much do you guys make in tips?”

And would it be enough to buy a plane ticket home in time for homecoming?

The girls threw out some numbers that made my stomach sink. Basically, if I worked a gig a night nonstop from now until the end of the month, maybe I’d be able to afford a one-way flight.

I took a deep breath. I would not get discouraged. I would not get discouraged. Where there was a will there was a way, right?

“Do you need money for something in particular, dear?” Mrs. Messner looked concerned. But was she concerned enough to up my hourly rate to something that wasn’t so horrifically demeaning? That was the question.

“Um, well, actually…” All eyes were on me and I debated how much to tell them.

I hadn’t gotten much from my aunt about Mrs. Messner. All I knew was that they were friendly, but they didn’t seem to be besties or anything. I couldn’t really imagine my cranky old aunt hanging out with the bubbly and frazzled Mrs. Messner often.

They were waiting. And I decided to try. “I’m hoping to make enough for a flight home.”

Savannah’s brows arched. “You’re running back home already?”

My brows came down. She'd managed to say ‘you wuss’ without actually saying it, which was...kind of impressive, to be honest. But I was so not in the mood for her attitude. “I’m not running back home,” I said. “I need to get back for homecoming.”

“Ooh,” Callie said with the sort of girly sigh that made me cringe. “You have a boyfriend waiting?”

I opened my mouth and then shut it. Kind of. Sorta? He would never be my boyfriend if I didn’t get back there and stake my claim. “I have a date,” I said. “And a crown.”

Savannah scoffed. “You’re up for homecoming queen?”

I narrowed my eyes and she met my glare. Somewhere in the distance I was pretty sure I heard the opening whistling sounds of The Good, The Bad, the Ugly.

“I wish I could give you an advance,” Mrs. Messner said with a wince of regret. “But I’ve been sending every extra cent to Jackson.”

“Her son,” Willow informed me. “He just went off to college in New York with his girlfriend.”

“His girlfriend,” Callie echoed with that same high sigh. “I love that he and Ruby finally got together.”

I nodded. Uh huh. Good for them. I just adored hearing about random strangers’ happily ever afters when my own love life was a steaming pile of garbage.

Savannah seemed to be thinking the same. “Could we take a break from the sappiness for a second?”

The words would have been more cutting if she hadn’t just donned a tiara and a magic wand.

“Back to business,” Willow said. And she sounded very businesslike.

I exchanged a quick look with Savannah before we both glanced away from one another. I had a hunch she was the only one here who was on the same page as me...for better or for worse.

“I doubt you can make enough to fly back in time,” Willow continued.

“Yeah, just look at Flynn,” Callie said. “He’s been busting his butt just to get enough for gas and some food money for the long drive to the East Coast.”

“He’s driving East?” I asked.

“His mom and brothers