Page 109 of Bribed by the Billionaire Bad Boy

“Ah.”

“Easier?” Rebecca’s brows furrow. “How? What?”

I curl the hem of Calypso’s sweatshirt up around my hands, mindlessly fiddling, a little too comfortable, and explain for someone outside of my and Calypso’s collective hive mind. “It takes less energy to act in a role that’s familiar than to establish a new one, especially when third parties are involved. It also will potentially divert considerable backlash. If Agatha thinks she’s already doing a decent job of being a—” I curse. “—she doesn’t have to up her game and cause more problems.”

“Oh.” Rebecca blinks, looking at me. “Okay. That’s weird. I mean, not as weird as Agatha acting like some mean girl from a chick-flick. What’s her problem with you, Caly?”

“We knew each other in high school. When we found out we were taking all the same creative classes, we became friends. Then for one reason or another, she made it her job to tear me down under the guise of constructive criticism.”

“Ew. Long-term jealousy.” Rebecca fakes a gag.

Calypso laughs; it’s hollow. “I don’t know about that. She excelled far better than I did at everything.”

“As if.” Rebecca moves to the water fountain to get a drink. “She doesn’t even understand Harriet.”

“Harriet’s an exception since their characters are so vastly different. And for me, this play is an exception.”

Rebecca tosses her curls back as she rises. “How so?”

Calypso’s head comes to rest against my chest, right beside the little bow she tied in my hoodie strings. “I have Kenneth and Jo to rely on.”

“Aww.” Rebecca’s expression softens, and she sets a hand against her chest before she’s hugging Calypso and pressing herfirm against me. “Always, Caly. Don’t cut yourself short though. You’re amazing all on your own.” Pulling away, Rebecca winks. “Well, I’ll see you two back in there. Be good while you’re unsupervised.”

I watch the door to the auditorium swing closed before Calypso lifts her head off my chest and I look down to find her waiting lips. My lips twitch into a smirk. “Hey, she just told us to be good.”

“I am being good.” Her eyelashes don’t even flutter. “You didn’t get to finish, because I ran away.”

“That’s true.” I tip her chin up, glancing sidelong at the doors to make sure I can steal a kiss in private, then I do.

I’ll never get used to the feeling of her sighing into me, letting herself be at the mercy of my kisses. I want this. Dang it. Ireallywant this forever.

Which means I have to invite her into a horrible place and hope she’ll, once again, surprise me.

Calypso

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stare down at the perfectly crisp little card. The paper alone seems out of my pay grade. And the fact it bears my name gives me anxiety.

“I don’t understand?” I look up at Lex, who pushed the invitation onto my lap the second I situated myself into the front seat of his truck then collapsed with his forehead against the wheel.

He turns slightly, looking at me without lifting his head. “It’s a business party. Think of it like a business meeting, but everyone is eating and drinking and laughing and overall pretending to like each other.”

I wince. “That sounds kind of awful?”

“It is.” He huffs a breath, resting his temple against the wheel. “Come make it less awful for me.”

“Okay,” I state.

“Okay?” he asks. “Just like that? It’s really going to be terrible. Bright and loud and a ton of people are going to ask if you’re my girlfriend.”

I tap one line on the invitation, ignoring everything he just said. “Formal attire. The nicest dress I have is the sweater dress I still need to return.”

“Keep it. Use it. It’s a little big on you, but it’s cute.” He folds his arm against the wheel and rests his face in the crook of his elbow, contemplating. “You need an evening gown.” His truck rumbles to a start, and he pulls out. “Text your mom that I’m kidnapping you.”

“Again?” I murmur, reaching for my phone. “She’s going to start getting suspicious.”

Lex laughs. “I made an extra pumpkin muffin for her. Thatshould be enough to take the edge off.”