Page 60 of How to Belong with a Billionaire

She thought about it for a moment. “Yeah.”

“I’m sure that’s how people get murdered.”

“It’s America. I’ll buy a gun.”

“Ellery.” I sat up again abruptly. “Donotbuy a gun.”

“Just a little one. I wouldn’t get an assault rifle or anything.”

“Actually, I read it was harder to get handguns because something something concealable something something regulations something something right to hunt shit.”

“Oh, okay. I’ll get an AR-15 then. Thanks, Arden.”

“You better”—I glared at her—“be winding me up right now.”

She grinned. “Guess you’ll find out soon.”

Sighing, I reflopped. “At least take my coat.”

“So I can put my assault rifle in it?”

“No, because it’s really fucking cold out there.”

“Whatever,Mom.”

I wagged a finger at her. “I have your best interests at heart, young lady.”

“You’ll never understand me.” She stamped her foot. “And you’re not my real mom either.”

She left a few minutes later, though she did take my coat. I sent a message to Nik to let him know I’d made it and passed out not long after. It felt like no time at all had gone by before Ellery was poking me awake again.

“So”—she jumped onto the bed, still in my coat and her boots—“are you intending to see Nik, you know, the friend you specifically came here to see, or are you going to sleep forever?”

I clung to the duvet and made sad noises.

“You’ll miss breakfast.”

That got my attention. “Have you even been to bed yet?” I asked, staggering towards the bathroom in my purple unicorn boxers.

“Bed is boring.”

“What did you do last night?”

I almost heard her shrugging. “Stuff.”

“Wow, thanks.” My words came out muffled around my toothbrush. “I feel I have a much better understanding of the life of the city now.”

“No problem. Anytime.”

“Besides, we can’t see Nik ’til after four. He has physical therapy or whatever and we shouldn’t interrupt.”

“Oh no,” Ellery drawled. “You poor thing. Whatever will you do in this unfamiliar place?”

“Go back to bed?”

“Well, since you’re being so pathetic about it, I guess you can come with me.”

I spat, rinsed, and stuck my head back into the room. “Gosh, are you sure?”