Page 166 of Meet Me In The Dark

A second later, the typing bubbles appear.

Julian:Let me show you off.

Sighing, I tilt my head and take a very unflattering picture of myself.

Me:Here. Show everyone this.

Julian:Cute, but now I’m going to have to punish you for that.

Me:I’m looking forward to it.

When his next message finallycomes through, my heart constricts in my chest.

Julian:I miss you.

I stare at the screen, my throat tight.

Me:You saw me two hours ago.

Julian:So?

Me:I miss you, too. How did your session with Dr. Rae go? You okay?

Julian:I’m good. I’ll tell you about it later. Where are you?

I roll my eyes, but the smile splitting my face in two betrays me.

Me:Brunch.

Julian:I know you tell them everything, so make sure you make me look good. And don’t forget the part where I tied you up.

I choke on my mimosa.

Madison slaps my back as Emmy gasps. “Celeste!”

I cough but wave them off, even as my face burns. “I’m fine.”

Madison leans back when she’s sure I won’t choke to death and studies me a little too closely for my comfort. “Oh, you’ve fallen for him.”

I don’t say a word.

“You do have that glow about you,” Emmy adds.

“It’s new face creams. I’ll send you the link.”

She narrows her eyes. “Why are you blushing?”

Madison reaches across the table and grabs my phone right out of my hand.

“Madison, no!” I lunge for it, but she’s as fast as hell.

Howling with laughter, she slaps the table and shoves the phone in Emmy’s face so she can read Julian’s texts too.

Her eyes go cartoonishly wide. “Wait… he actually did that?”

I snatch my phone back and clutch it to my chest.

Madison fans herself. “What do you even do after that? How do you follow up?”