Jeff squeezes my arm, which is now linked with his, and Kevin and Julie open the door. The place is packed. People are everywhere. I don’t know if we four will even be able to find a place to stand, never mind move about.

“So much for an entrance,” Jeff complains as we push our way through the noisy throng.

“Attention, everyone. We’re opening up the patio. I know it’s cold outside, but we have the heaters going, so it should be pleasant. No, you won’t need your coats.”

I look toward the direction of the voice, but can’t see over the tall heads in front of me. If you’re a woman and are tall, why in the freaking hell do you wear high heels?

Amazingly, the crowd thins. I guess everyone wants to be on the patio. At least we can breathe now. I’m letting Jeff lead me to wherever we’re going. I lost track of Julie and Kevin. I guess that’s the price I pay for being short. Jeff stops abruptly, and I almost stumble, which would’ve been just great. I peek around him to see what has him standing still. Liam is in front of him, and he’s smiling wide. I move to stand at Jeff’s side, and Liam’s eyes go from Jeff’s to mine, and he picks me up and swings me around like I’m a toy doll.

“Darlin’, you look amazing, and I love you. ‘Thank you’ doesn’t begin to cover what you’ve done for me.”

My smile is wobbly. I hope he’s not drunk and won’t drop me. I also hope my underwear isn’t showing to the crowd of people.

“I didn’t do anything, Liam. It was all you. Now, as much as I love this, could you please put me down? Two glasses of wine and pizza, plus spinning, are not mixing very well together. Oh, and I love you too.”

“Sorry, love, but I’m so excited to start the New Year free from secrets,” he says as he puts me down gently and kisses my cheek.

“I’m so happy for you.” I feel Jeff watching and pull him close to us. I guess he backed up when Liam started his twirling act.

“Hey, Jeff, how were your holidays?” Liam looks uncomfortable all of a sudden, and even though he’s tan, I see a hint of blush on his cheeks.

“Pretty awesome. Spent it with Dora and her family, or as I think of them, my second family.” Jeff beams. I’m sure he noticed the blush too. If I could, I would cross my fingers, toes, legs, arms, and wish on a shooting star that these two gel.

“Beer?” Liam asks, but I shake my head. “Oh, right. Fireball doesn’t like beer.”

I can’t believe the change, and he’s calling me fireball.

“I’ll have one,” Jeff announces, and Liam makes his way to the kitchen with Jeff trailing behind. The crowd closes in, and I lose sight of both of them. Wait until I get a hold of Jeff. He promised he’d stick to me like glue. I feel eyes on me. I seem to be the center of attention of the group in front of me.

“Who’s your agent?” a tall, dark, long-legged male with shaggy hair addresses me.

“Me? I don’t have one,” I reply, watching his eyes widen in surprise.

“Everyone does. It’s unheard of not to have one in this town.”

Is that disdain on his face?

“I don’t do what everyone else does. It’s so common.” I can’t believe those words just came out of my mouth.

“Hey, Chilton, are you harassing our roomie?” Thank the stars that are absent in the sky. It’s delectable Colin to the rescue.

“Oh, so she’s not one of us?” Chilton’s tone is starting to grate on my nerves, and yes, I’m getting fired up. I think Colin thinks so too, as he takes my arm and guides me to the other side of the room.

“You didn’t have to rescue me. Okay, maybe you did. He’s quite the pompous ass. Remind me to not buy any magazines with him in it.”

Colin laughs and it sounds so good. But no butterflies. What is up with that? Are they drunk on the wine and don’t have the energy to flutter?

“I know you can hold your own. I was worried for Chilton. He’s never met a Pandora before, and I don’t know if he’s up for it. How were your holidays?” He’s looking into my eyes, and yep, no butterflies. Oh, well. It never had a chance anyway.

But what about that kiss? Surely he hasn’t forgotten about that.

“Oh, just abnormal, as usual. Poor Drew had to put up with us, but he’s still hanging around, so we haven’t scared him off yet. And yours?” I ask as he looks me up and down.

“Dora, has anyone told you how amazing you look in that dress? It totally matches your hair. No wonder Chilton was talking to you. My holidays were brilliant. I found out I’m going to be an uncle again. My family loves to procreate. My mum always drops hints to me. I’m the baby and everyone else is settled.”

“Mothers have a way of doing that. I’m glad you like the dress. Jeff picked it out for me.” I brazenly turn around, letting him get the full effect.” He responds with a soft whistle, causing people in our immediate area to stare.

“Well, he has good taste. Speaking of which, thanks for what you did for Liam. Drew and I have known he was gay for years, but he wouldn’t even break his silence for us. He called me from his home on Boxing Day, which is the day after Christmas, and told me the news. Also, between us, I think he’s got his eye on someone we both know.”

“Jeff. Tell me it’s Jeff.” Stupid, Dora, stupid. Of course it’s Jeff.

“Are you all right with that?” He looks warily at me.

“Are you kidding? I would flippin’ love it. Jeff is a wonderful guy, and the two of them would be perfect together.” I reach up and hug Colin, who returns it with gusto. My feet are barely touching the floor.

“Hey, what’s this? What am I missing?” Drew’s deep, smexy voice washes over me and the butterflies stir. I mean they’re jumping. Maybe it’s the pizza or the wine mixing together.

“I was thanking our Dora for helping Liam.”

“Yeah, I’ve been meaning to drop by, but I’ve been tied up since Christmas on a project I’m working on.” Drew’s eyes meet mine, and the psychotic butterflies, pizza, and wine are having a wild party. I can’t believe these two can’t hear them. I can’t be attracted to Drew. It was Colin, always Colin. Drew wouldn’t have bowed and kissed my hand before he ravished me. For the love of chocolate…I used the word ravished.

“Dora?”

Oh, great. Now I’ve missed something.

“Sorry, what did you say?”

“Colin just said you’re okay with Liam and Jeff.” Drew’s voice is now sending shivers through me and goose bumps have popped up all over my arms and legs.

“Uh-huh, of course. I couldn’t think of a better match, except for Kevin and Julie.” Why does that depress me all of a sudden?

“Anyone taking your fancy?” Colin asks, and I realize he’s asking if I’m into anyone.

“Too busy. School, work, and Sunday dinners leave little time for anything else.”

I feel Drew’s eyes on me, and then all over me as if he’s just noticed how I look. I bite my lip. I can’t remember the last time I bit my lip. I’m nervous. What does he think? Too slutty? No, Jeff wouldn’t let me look slutty, and I didn’t appear slutty in my mirror, and hey, Drew hangs around with models who look slutty all the time.

What the hell is wrong with me? Bitchy much, Dora?

“She’s talking to herself,” Jeff’s voice punches through my thoughts.

“Are you talking to me?”

“You’re the only female standing with us.”

I look around. He’s right. Just Drew, Colin, Liam, Jeff and I are standing in this little intimate circle.

“Shouldn’t you guys be circulating? You’re the hosts,” I say a little too quickly and maybe a little defensively.

“So are you,” Drew replies with a little delicious smirk.

How the hell can a smirk be delicious? What was in that wine? I feel my arm being taken, and I look up to see Drew gazing at me.

“Come with me, Dora. We need to do some hosting.”

I can’t think of a damn response. My brain has gone on strike, but my stomach is full of activity.

The crowd parts as we move along, and I’m the object of many stares. Instead of being nervous, I stare back. How dare they look at me like I don’t belong here. Chilton did, but who the heck is he? I hear whispering and I want to yell that my mom taught me it’s rude to whisper. If you can’t say it out loud, then drop dead.

Okay, my mom never said the last part, but it sounds better than what she says.

Drew doesn’t stop as we make a sweep around the apartment, even though he’s hailed by everyone. He just smiles and keeps moving.

“Shouldn’t you stop and speak to your fans?” I finally ask.

“I see these people all the time. They’re phony, Dora. They only like me because they think I can help their careers. They don’t care a lick about me. They’re shallow, and I’m tired of all this bullshit.”

He sounds so sad. I want to take him in my arms and hold him, and then run my fingers through his hair. Okay, so maybe not that, but I’m supposed to help him. I wish I could strangle Henry for being so vague. I’m not good at guessing games. I’m a spell-everything-out-for-me type of girl.

“There are phony people everywhere,” I say, “but I’m sure not everyone in this room is fake.”

Yeah, Dora, that sounds good. Way to pick up his mood.

“Nope. Every single one of them, except for our little group, of course. Agents, models and makeup artists, they all want a huge piece of the pie and expect us to give it to them. I worked hard to get where I am, and I didn’t step on people to get here. Sorry to be such a downer on New Year’s. Maybe we should dance.”

“But there’s no music,” I say as he takes me in his arms and moves flush against me and sways like he can hear music.

He leans down. “I love that you’re wearing my present,” he whispers.