Page 113 of The Arrogant One

I could feel her eyes on every inch of my face as she said, “Why do you look defeated?” She did another sweep. “I can’t tell if you’re hungover from last night or if you have sad puppy eyes, like you’re missing Sadie. But even during our meeting earlier today, you looked this way, and it’s past lunchtime, which would have wiped out your hangover because food solves all the hurt, so I’m going with mysad puppy eyestheory.” She pulled at the sleeves of her gray blazer.

I rubbed my palms over the legs of my suit pants, staring past my sister, through the windows and at the view of LA. Once the clamminess was off my skin, I resumed the pen clicking with my thumb. “I’m neither.”

“Then it’s not a look of defeat. It’s anger.Hmm.” Sherubbed her lips together. “All right, lay it on me. What’s got you worked up?”

“I’ve got a puzzle for you to solve.”

She leaned into the edge of her desk and folded her hands together. “My favorite.” She smiled. “Give me every detail. Leave nothing out.”

“It’s about Sadie.”

“Sadie?” Her brows rose their highest. “Now I’m even more intrigued.”

Me

How about your place?

Sadie

How about your place?

I’ll bring dinner. What are you in the mood for?

She’d met my family. She’d been to my house more than a handful of times. We’d been spending several nights a week together, most of those ending in a sleepover.

I no longer wore a condom when we fucked.

And she’d told me on more than one occasion that she thought she’d found her future husband.

But she still wouldn’t invite me over.

Eden had told me a few minutes ago that Sadie would respond this way. But I had hoped that she wouldn’t, that I’d finally get the invite.

I wanted to prove my sister wrong.

And, fuck, Icouldn’t.

Me

Surprise me.

The sound of my phone vibrating on my nightstand should have been what woke me. But I’d barely gotten any sleep, and I was already awake when the alerts began to come through. It didn’t matter that Sadie had brought over dinner, that the evening was perfect and it felt as though nothing was wrong, that she lay next to me in bed, cuddling my chest all night, until about an hour ago, when she’d rolled in the other direction.

I still couldn’t get these goddamn thoughts out of my head.

Every time they circled, when I recalled the conversation I’d had with Eden, sleep moved further away until it was eventually out of grasp.

I picked up my phone, first turning down the brightness so the screen wasn’t like a sun shining throughout the dark room, and then I checked my notifications.

Walker

I’m guessing Eden and Beck are probably the only ones awake right now, but when the rest of you get up, check out Seen’s review of Musik and then go to Dear Foodie’s Instagram. 2 for fucking 2, family. I couldn’t be happier.

Beck

I just saw. Fuuuck, dude, Dear Foodie is loving her some Westons.

Eden