Page 36

“Lime. Thank you. Love you.”

I wrinkle my nose. That is her favorite flavor, and it makes me question our friendship. Lime seltzers taste like plain, fizzy water with a mildly alcoholic sting. At least the mango one has a sweet taste.

I pluck two chilled cans from the fridge and pop the tabs open. My phone lights up from where it’s charging on the kitchen counter, and I place the seltzers down to check the notification.

CULLEN:let me know if you change your mind

I bite my lower lip, trying to temper the grin that threatens to break free. Cullen is back in town last minute to close out a deal in Chelsea. He’d texted me this morning before he boarded his flight from Miami and asked if I was free for another date once his meetings were over.

I’d been three seconds away from texting him ‘yes’ before Hannah practically bodychecked the phone out of my hand. I’d promised her the other day that I’d go to her friend’s social club for a Friday night out. After bailing the last few times due to Shitty Mike, she’d even gone so far as to make me pinky promise.

I want to see Cullen, but I also know that sticking by my promise is the right move. I can’t keep being that girl who bails on her best friend because a guy suddenly wants my attention. That goes against the whole goal I’d set for myself. I’m not going to chase after Cullen; he could chase after me.

Even if this is the hardest thing in the entire world.

With a reluctant sigh, I flip my phone over and pick up the seltzers.

Hannah is humming along to a song on her phone, her face practically smooshed against the bathroom mirror as she threads a heart-shaped stud into her earlobe.

“For you.” I hold the lime flavor out to her like a gift.

“Thanks.” She takes a deep swig. “I swear I’m almost ready.”

I let out a snort. The only time Hannah is ever punctual is for work; otherwise, she is notoriously late.

“You said that twenty minutes ago when we were supposed to leave.”

“Yeah, well, that was just a buffer time. No one shows up until eleven, anyway.”

“Uh-huh. It’s quarter to.”

“Shit. Really?”

I take a dramatic sip of my mango seltzer before popping the word, “Yup.”

“Fuck. Okay. Okay. Ugh. The guys are going to murder me. Can you check when the next train is, and I swear I’ll be ready in five. I just need to find my shoes.”

I give her a loving eye roll before heading back into the kitchen to unplug my phone. Cullen’s text blinks back at me and I push past that tug in my chest, swiping free from the temptation and pulling up the train schedule, determined to resist him.

Music thumps along my skin as I sway my hips to the beat, an empty plastic cup of tequila in my hand. Hannah smiles, completely lost to the song, the purple lights of the club shining off her metallic mesh crop top. One of the DJs briefly places a hand on the small of her bare back, drawing her attention to him.

She leans her head in as he whispers something, and I watch that signature feline smirk melt onto her face as she responds back. She gives his bicep a brief squeeze before stepping away and shuffling over to me. She plucks the empty cup from my hand.

“Come on, let’s head back to the table. I’ll get you a refill.” She has to shout to be heard over the music. It’s always a million times louder behind the DJ booth.

“I’m good.”

She links our elbows anyway, leading us off the raised platform. “Fine, but just pretend.”

“DJ guy giving you a hard time?”

“Huh? Oh, no. He is always touchy like that. We almost banged a few times, but the moment’s passed.”

“Of course. Then why are we rushing off?”

“I spotted this guy that Ididbang heading over to the table. If I’m lucky, he may want a repeat performance.”

“Guessing it was a good lay?”