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“You good, Vee?” Hannah taps the edge of my phone screen.

“Yeah, I–”

CULLEN:ok - come out front

“–I’m actually going to head back.”

Hannah’s brows furrow. “Are you sure?”

“I’m kinda tired.”

“Want me to come back with you? I can just grab my purse.”

I look over her shoulder where the guy she’d been flirting with is chatting with a few of the other men. I know Hannah would much rather go home with him than back to our place.

I shake my head. “I’ll be fine. I’ll text you when I get back, ok?”

She wraps her arms around me in a slightly sweaty hug. “KK, love you.”

Once she releases me from her embrace, I wave a quick goodbye and then begin weaving my way through the sea of dancing people. It is still totally packed in here, so by the time I finally make it to the second-floor landing, I practically sigh with relief from making it out without getting an elbow to the ribs.

I grip the railing of the spiral staircase and carefully make my way down. The glass walls are windows to the bustling night, a large crowd of people still lined up outside the venue, all hoping to get in and have a taste of the luxury.

The bouncer opens a second door for me to exit through, and I give him a smile as I step onto the breezy sidewalk. The temperature is a stark difference from the stuffiness inside the social club.

I wrap one arm around myself while I start to text Cullen back, realizing he never gave me the license plate I’m supposed to look for.

“Need a ride home, miss?”

I almost jump out of my skin as the deep voice rumbles close to my ear. I whip my head to the side, only to be met with a barrage of confusing emotions.

“Cullen?”

He smiles down at me, dressed totally differently than any other time I’ve seen him. He sports a black hoodie and dark blue jeans, nothing like the usual walking suit advertisement he typically is. But even in his casual clothes, he looks absolutely delicious.

I’m pretty sure he could wear a garbage bag and look hot.

I instinctively reach out to hug him, and he opens his arms for me. I snuggle against the soft fabric of his hoodie, my entire body getting all fuzzy from being wrapped up in him.

“What’re you doing here?” I mumble, cheek against his chest.

“My hotel is around the corner. I couldn’t resist seeing you when you were this close.”

“Weren’t we going to grab breakfast in the morning?”

“I had a feeling I’d have better luck seeing you now than getting you out of bed at eight.”

“Eight?!” I pull my head back and tilt it up at him. “I didn’t realize you meantthatearly.”

“Yeah, my flight’s at twelve.”

“You were barely even here for twenty-four hours.”

“I know.”

I squeeze him tighter, mourning the time that had been taken from us.

I don’t want to go home anymore. I want to spend what little time I can with him. Except it is almost two in the morning. What could I possibly do about that?