Page 203 of The Night Shift

I run a hand through my hair that I spent an hour trying to curl in the morning and stare at the message again. There’s something…off about it. No, not off. Familiar. It’s almost as if I’ve gotten this text before.Seenthis text before. Somewhere. From someone.

I sigh and put on my heels, before pushing off the wall and moving again.

Four empty conference rooms and three unhelpful servers later, I turn left, eyes already scanning the corridor when I spot April, Parker and —

“Theo?”

His head immediately turns to the sound of my voice. Along with two others. What the hell is happening here?

Theo’s gaze skims every inch of me like a lazy fingerprint.

“Looking like an actual human being for once,” he says as I march towards them. “You clean up nice, Hollister.”

“Call me that again and the only thing I’ll be cleaning is your blood off the floor.” I turn to April. “Where have you been? I sent three guys out looking for you. Mom thinks you forced Parker to elope.”

“Elope? Why would I do that?”

“Same reason you’re getting married to him.” I point to Parker. “Sheer insanity.”

Parker snorts. “I’m devastated.”

“Go to hell.”

“And risk running into you for eternity? Not a chance.”

Before I can introduce his face to the sharp end of my stiletto, his peacekeeper fiancée cuts in. “Hey, Hol? Apparently, you left something in Theo’s car?”

Huh?My brain short circuits. Confused, I look between the three of them and judging by the way Theo — pot-stirring little hag — is now grinning, I already know this isn’t going to be fun for me.

I’ve only been in his car, what, four times? Maybe five? And we’ve ended up fucking at least two out of those four times. Jesus fucking Christ, did he actually tell April about that? I shoot him a glare, hoping he gets my message:I hope your blood turns to acid.

April goes on looking at me expectantly.

I decide to play it cool. “His car? I don’t know what he’s talking about. I haven’t been in his car.”

Theo scoffs. “Leave the lying to the experts, love.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pair of red lace underwear.Myunderwear.

I wishmyblood would turn to acid.

“Ohmygod,” I say, mortified and mostly to myself.

Parker snorts. “And here I thought Satan was allergic to color.”

A horrified April turns to me. “Oh, Hol. Please don’t tell me you had sex in that dress. And please tell me you’re wearing underwear right now. That dress is going to be in a lot of wedding pictures. I don’t want to associate it with … his junk all up in you.”

“We did not have sex!”

“Not yet,” chimes in Theo.

I glare at him.

Parker shakes his head and takes a step back. “No. Nope. Take this fucking conversation somewhere else. Far from us. There are images starting to form in my head that I need to get rid of.”

April smacks his arm. “Stop picturing my sister naked.”

“I’m not picturinghernaked,” Parker smacks her back.

Theo laughs quietly. “Thanks, man. I’m flattered.”