Free Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park Page A

solely from her outrageous look or because she was sitting next to a boy, she wasn’t sure. Both were humiliating. She looked straight ahead and focused on the boiling pot of water on the stove. “My parents and brother are a bit taken aback by my appearance right now.”
    “Ah, I see. Well, I guess this isn’t exactly what I thought you’d be like, but it’s certainly a striking statement. Really, I mean, the hair is wild.”
    “I am returning from an audition,” she explained.
    Matt snickered. “An audition for something legal or illegal?”
    She glared at him. “Legal, of course. A local band was looking for new talent, so I performed to the best of my abilities.”
    “I didn’t realize that you sang,” Roger said. He, too, seemed on the verge of giggling, yet Celeste found nothing funny about this situation. “How did this audition go?”
    “Very well. The band is most interested in having me join as the lead singer, but I have to evaluate my commitments.”
    “Really?” Erin handed glasses with water and lime slices to Justin and her. “You know, I used to sing with a small ensemble in college.”
    Matt nearly jumped out of his seat. “Mother-daughter duets tonight, I beg of you!”
    “Shut up,” Celeste snapped.
    “Just an idea, just an idea.” He waved his hands innocently.
    “Dinner will be ready soon,” Erin said. “Homemade spinach pasta with pesto. Green beans on the side. And salad. I’m trying out a theory that monochromatic meals deliver a certain pleasurable sensory experience. Roger and Matt, would you help me while Celeste entertains her guest? And, Justin, I look forward to hearing more about Barton. I admit I know very little, although I do know that it has a remarkable reputation. One of those schools that I believe is undeservedly under the radar. We’re so happy you’re here.”
    The open kitchen allowed her family a perfect view of the loveseat while they finished cooking. She sat stiffly and stared straight ahead as she tried to identify a way out of all of this.
    Justin leaned in and spoke softly. “I’m sorry. I hope you don’t mind, but your parents invited me to stay for dinner. I don’t have to if this is too weird.”
    The top of his arm touched hers. Celeste’s entire body felt flush. She had no idea why. It must be the embarrassment of being caught in this ludicrous getup. It was possible that she might now overheat in this vinyl catsuit and simply dissolve into nothing right in front of him. It was not a totally undesirable concept.
    This situation was unfair. She’d had no warning whatsoever that she would be meeting the person she had been emailing and with whom she had been exchanging snowy owls. The plan had been… Well, there hadn’t exactly been a plan per se, but she certainly had never intended to find herself face to face with Justin. Nor with the boy who got down on one knee for her. Nor that those two would turn out to be one and the same person.
    And now he was staying for dinner, and she was dressed in a highly inappropriate manner.
    “We are overjoyed to have you as our dinner companion,” Celeste said. “If you would please excuse me, however, for a few moments so that I might change into more fitting dinner attire? Well, or less fitting. Looser, you see. Proper attire is what I mean. I appreciate your understanding.”
    “Of course.”
    Celeste tried to stand, but her body was nearly crippled by the catsuit material that fought her attempts to get up from her sunken position on the loveseat. She tried using her hands to push off, again to no avail.
    Without saying a word, Justin moved from his seat and took her by the hands, smoothly pulling her to stand. There were only inches between them, and Celeste could not bring herself to look him in the eye. In her boots, she was a bit taller than him, so she looked down and found herself gazing at his shoulder. And the way his simple T-shirt fell over his chest. He was on the thin side and had