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“I’m sorry I’m late. Mila insisted I finish my end of the project before heading out,” someone says behind me. Her voice is feminine and warm.

“It’s okay. Let me introduce you to some friends. Lauren, Lux, this is Madison.”

The woman comes into view, and I can’t help but look at her from head to toe. Slick-cut blonde hair, Lanvin silk blouse, and pointed-toe Anouk heels lean closer to him. She’s beautiful.

She opens her mouth, but it turns into a bit of a surprised laugh. “I know you. I mean, who doesn’t? Bougie Girl.” She shakes my hand and then moves over to Lauren. “And you own Autumn Lush. Your video together months ago and the article was nothing short of amazing.”

“And there’s more to come,” I say of our collaboration. “It’s great to meet you, Madison.”

“We should go,” Elias says, pointing at their table. “They’re waiting for us.”

Madison looks over and nods. “Oh, yes. And I’m starving too.”

They wave at us and walk away toward their table where a woman and two other men wait.

I lean toward Lauren. “She seems so nice. What the hell is she doing with him?”

She nods. “I know. The whole time, I wanted to be like the lady from Ghost and say, ‘You’re in danger, girl.’”

“Can you imagine if he had accepted the invitation to sit with us?”

I then turn a raging stare on Mimi, who conveniently is paying more attention to her wine glass.

I pull out my phone and fire a text to Mimi.

Me

I better not see photos of that man, or of our interaction, anywhere on social media tomorrow.

“I guess we both have things we need to tell each other later. Because I’m dying to know what he asked you to think about,” Lauren whispers in my ear.

I turn back to her and sigh. “Okay, but you can’t tell Chase.”

Lauren nods. “Neither can you about what I’ll tell you later.”

Now I’m intrigued, but Mimi texts back.

Mimi

Of course not. Never.

I reply right away, adding a side-eye emoji.

Me

I can see the guy taking photos with his iPhone.

14

Ollie

Al mal tiempo, buena cara.

I also like to get things over quickly. There’s no need to dwell, especially when there are friendships—of all ages—at play here. I drop Ayla and Bron off at Mi Tesoro so they can have dinner. Adrianna smiled and chit-chatted with me like there was nothing amiss. Cam probably didn’t tell her what’s going on. I just wonder how this is going to play out because, no matter what happens today, and if I have to fight with her brothers, Lux gave me an opening.

She told me she wants to talk, and if that talk leads to a little something more, I’m running with it.

When I make it to The Birthmark, a woman greets me at the door. She smiles. “Do you have a reservation?”