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CHAPTER 55

Alana

“I’m going to throw up.” Tessa announces, flopping dramatically onto my bed like a Regency heroine in distress.

I glance at Hunter, who’s leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed, fighting a smirk.

I love being around her.

It reminds me that I am, in fact, not the dramatic one.

She is.

She came over to get ready for dinner together and now she’s spiralling.

Dramatically, of course.

She’s officially moved in with Kyra and Riley.

And honestly? I’m proud of her.

And a little jealous.

She’s paying rent and standing on her own two (very stylish) feet.

“Why?” I ask, brushing a final stroke of highlighter along my cheekbone.

“Because Ryan is hot,” she hisses, muffled by the pillow.

“And I can’t go to dinner with him looking like a goblin.”

I finally caved and agreed to set up that dinner with Ryan from VYBE .

The one I promised him weeks ago at our Winter Launch.

At the time, I had no intention of following through, even though he flew in all the way from New York.

But then Tessa confessed she had a massive crush on him and that changed everything.

Not because I suddenly cared about the logistics.

Or the pitch. Or the fact that Ryan could take Rock & Metal global if he really wanted to.

I said yes because I wanted to watch my best friend squirm.

That’s what best friends are for, right?

To hold your hand through trauma.

To hype you up through breakups.

And to shamelessly exploit your crush for emotional entertainment.

This dinner isn’t just business anymore.

It’s chaos. And I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

“You look great,” I say.

“I look like I’ve been trying too hard for an hour and still failed.”

“You have been,” Hunter chimes in.

“But I appreciate the effort.”

Tessa sits up, glaring.

“Can you not?”

He lifts a brow.

“What? I’m just saying, if you plan to hyperventilate into a bread basket tonight, maybe skip the waterproof mascara.”

“Oh my God,” she groans.

“Why is he even here?”

“He was invited to the dinner. And he’s our designated driver,” I remind her, walking over to where Hunter is standing and stealing a kiss without thinking.

“Ugh,” Tessa says, covering her eyes.

“Stop kissing in front of the single girl. It’s rude.” She throws a pillow at us.

“I hate both of you, actually.”

“No,” I say, grinning.

“You’re just hangry and horny.”

She groans again.

“This is going to be a disaster.”

Yes, I’m counting on that.

But I’m a good friend, so I don’t say it out loud.

Instead, I walk over and grab her wrist. “It’s a business dinner, not a date. He’s the one pushing for the meet-up.”

The thought of expanding still makes me nervous.

I’m scared it’ll lose that intimate feeling, that it won’t feel like me anymore.

But again, this is just dinner.

It’s not like I’m signing a contract tonight.

I mostly agreed to see Tessa freak.

So far? Worth it.

“If he’s a dick to you, I’ll throw my drink on him,” I say for added effect.

Hunter adds, “I’ll flip the table.”

Tessa looks between us.

“Okay… that actually made me feel better.”

“You’ve got this,” I say.

“Now go put on the red lip. You know it gives you powers.”

She nods solemnly, then disappears into the bathroom.