Reality Check by Jen Calonita Read Free Book Online Page A

set.”
    “Figures,” says Brooke and Hallie nudges her. “What? I'm just saying that it's no shocker that Charlie's name is the one that's on there.”
    “She probably put us on the list when she only knew my name,” I tell Brooke as I pull open the door. “She knows mine from work, remember?”
    That's the last thing I'm able to say without straining my voice. As we enter the restaurant, the four of us stop and look around. Whatever Nick and Toni's usually looks like, I'm sure this isn't it. You can tell the restaurant is used to more restrained affairs. The walls are stark white, covered with folk and kiddie art, and there are tons of windows that don't have curtains. In the center
of the main dining room is a large wood-burning stove that is
covered in mosaic tile. One room of the dining area has been cleared to make way for a DJ, and through the window, I can see an outside patio that has Christmas lights on the canopy. Instead of people eating quietly at tables, the place is jam-packed. There are several large TVs playing music videos, and Fire and Ice shows, like
Firing Up!
, Peggy Pierce's countdown program that Brooke loves, and
Surf's Up
, this new reality show about extreme surfing starring all these hot guys, one of which I'm sure just brushed past me.
    Brooke grabs me. “This feels so right, doesn't it? Like we belong here?”
    I don't know about that, but it sure is fun to be a fly on the wall. I feel like I should be reporting on this bash for the school paper. “Should we look for Susan?” I ask. Everyone nods and we make a chain, like we always do when we're someplace crowded. Hands linked, we move through the crowd, going from one room to the next looking for an attractive thirty-something brunette with great taste in clothes. Unfortunately, a lot of people fit that bill. Everyone is so beautifully dressed and has such immaculate hair and nails that I almost feel out of place in this outlet mall dress, even if it is pretty. Suddenly Hallie stops short, pulling us all to a standstill.
    “Oh my God, Oh my God, I think that's Connor Evans!” Hallie whispers in my ear, since she's directly behind me. “Would it be tacky if I asked him to take a photo?”
    “Hallie, do you see who that is?” I hear Keiran squeak a few heads back.
    “Connor?” Brooke asks loudly.
    The guy turns away from the conversation he's having with some older dude in a suit and smiles the grin that has turned him into a household name. Yep, it's him all right. Connor's twenty-something, with brown hair, light stubble, and a bod that would make the
Surf's Up
guys envious. The physique is attributed to twice-daily workouts (according to TMZ.com ) for his Fire and Ice–produced series,
Cool as Ice
.
    “Hi there, ladies,” he says smoothly and strides over to Hallie. “Having a good night?”
    “Now we are,” Hallie says, holding Connor's gaze. The two of them stare at each other, which you'd think was odd, but considering Hallie's looks, it's not. This sort of thing happens to her all the time. Brooke calls it the Hallie Triangle—as in the Bermuda Triangle. Men get trapped in her hazel eyes and are never the same.
    “Do you think we could get a quick picture?” I ask.
    “Who's going to take the picture?” Keiran wonders aloud.
    “I can,” I offer. Connor's cute, but I'm more of a Robert Pattinson girl myself.
    “You need to be in it too,” Connor insists and taps on a waiter's shoulder. “Do you mind?” he asks, taking the camera from my shaking hands and giving it to the waiter, who snaps three pictures before I've even blinked.
    “I see you guys are settling in just fine.” Susan Strom appears out of nowhere wearing a sleek, strapless black dress and super-high heels. Her hair is pin straight and glossy. She leans forward to give Connor a quick kiss. “Connor, babe, good to see you.”
    “You're looking good, Susan, as always,” he says with a big smile. I'm not sure how he's able to do that—smile and