Chapter 1263: Busy with something else

Meanwhile, in the backseat of the car, Lily held her phone close to her. Her eyes shimmered with mischief as she giggled to herself, thinking about her plans for the night. When the car pulled over, the door suddenly flew open from the outside.

Turning her head, Lily’s smile stretched. "Heya, Ginnie!!"

"Lily, what is it this time?" Ginnie, who was only wearing a sweatshirt, ducked to look at her friend. "I told you, I can’t go tonight."

"But I’m sad!" Lily frowned.

"Sad? You just looked like an evil stepmother a moment ago," Ginnie pointed out. "Didn’t seem sad to me."

"Oh, come on!" Lily pleaded. "Senior Hugo is going to be there!"

Ginnie blinked and tilted her head to the side. "And?"

"Please...?" Lily’s eyes twinkled. "Ginnie, I didn’t tell you the truth, but back on the island... I fell in love with him!"

"HUH?!"

"So, I just really need a friend right now! I told him I’m throwing a party and invited him! If he realizes that it’s just the two of us, it’ll be a date! And I’d be so embarrassed if he started laughing in my face! I can’t do that! This is the first time I’ve fallen in love again."

"Again," Ginnie pointed out. "Lily, ’again’ means it’s not the first time."

"Oh, come on!" Lily clasped her hands together. "Pretty please??"

Ginnie studied Lily’s face before letting out a defeated sigh. "Fine, fine!" she conceded and jumped inside. "But I’m not wearing any dress you pick for me, okay?!"

"Okay!" Lily happily jumped to Ginnie’s side and hugged her. "You’re the best, Ginnie!"

"Goodness." Ginnie shook her head, looking down at Lily. "But really? You fell in love with Senior Hugo?"

"Oh my goodness, Ginnie. Why are you so soft?" Instead of answering, Lily hugged Ginnie’s arm even tighter. "You’re too thin, but also too soft! Also, how come you always smell like a baby?"

Ginnie deadpanned, staring at Lily, who was snuggling against her arm. "You didn’t fall for him, did you?"

"Are you crazy?" Lily looked up at her in dismay. "There’s no way in hell I’d fall for a guy who would swim across the ocean just to get back to his accommodation. Ginnie, I respect Senior Hugo, and I acknowledge that he’s the manliest of all. However, I need someone who would resolve an issue like that by booking a nearby hotel to spend the night instead of swimming all night. I’m already crazy. Just imagine what would happen to the two of us if I fell for him?"

"..." Ginnie shut her eyes and took a deep breath. Not only had Lily lied to her, but she also made it sound like this was Ginnie’s idea in the first place. And the most infuriating part? She had fallen for it.

"Ginnie, come on..." Lily frowned, hugging Ginnie’s arm tighter. "Don’t be mad at me."

"Lily, if you think pressing your chest against my arm will make me forgive you, you’re wrong."

"Please...?"

"Oh, god." Ginnie pinched the bridge of her nose. "What else can I do? It’s not like you’d stop if I said pull over."

"It’s my driver who won’t stop," Lily corrected. "But yay! Ginnie’s going to party with me! Time for drinks!"

Ginnie leaned back, defeated by her friend. It was a good thing she only had some light work tomorrow and had already finished some research for the team. That meant she wouldn’t need to be with them for practice and training the next day.

---

[Wild Platinum Club]

As soon as Ginnie stepped into the nightclub, her ears were assaulted by the loud music—and Lily’s scream.

"Kyahh! You made it!" Lily squealed happily, dragging Ginnie along. "Gracie!!"

Ginnie flinched slightly as she let go of Lily, watching her skip over to the woman standing at the bar counter. Seeing Lily give Grace a huge hug, the corner of Ginnie’s mouth curled into a smile.

"Grace!" Seeing Grace again after so long quickly put Ginnie in a good mood. The last time they had met was during a girl’s night, which had turned into a disaster.

"Oh, Ginnie!" Grace quickly moved to hug Ginnie tightly. "How have you been? It’s been a while."

"Good! Just a bit busy, but overall, good," Ginnie grinned. "How about you? Whenever I ask Penny, she always says you’re busy."

"That’s because I was," Grace replied. "That’s why when Lily said she was throwing a party, I thought I should come and have a short escape."

"See?" Lily beamed at Ginnie. "I’m a good friend."

"I didn’t know you two kept in touch."

"Well, I helped Lily with a case about her ex and recommended her a good lawyer," Grace shrugged before Lily happily chimed in:

"And she’s handling some of our business affairs."

"Oh..." Ginnie rocked her head, her mouth forming an O-shape before she smiled. "Well, that only leaves Penny and Nina."

"Sadly, they couldn’t come." This time, Lily frowned. "I asked Penny, but she said she’d get scolded by her husband."

"Did you really believe that?" Ginnie asked.

"Of course not! That’s why Senior Hugo is coming as her proxy!" Lily explained, the excuse suddenly popping into her head. But it was a good one, so she thought to mention that. Lily had just thought of an excuse once Hugo asked why she invited him to come. "Also, Nina couldn’t make it because she said... she’s busy preparing for a family dinner with her family and Finn’s family."

"Oh, right." Ginnie pounded her fist against her palm. "She did mention that."

"Well, I guess it’s a lot of pressure for the soon-to-be-married couple," Grace added.

"It’s been a long time coming, so I didn’t fight it," Lily explained. "Though, I was hopeful she would come because, knowing her, I’m sure she’s been stressing out about it."

---

Meanwhile, at Nina’s home...

The sound of kisses echoed softly in the quiet living room as Nina and Finn made out on the couch. Unlike what her friends thought, Nina had been busy... but with something else.