Page 53 of The Blackmail of Denise Randall

“Thank you for that. I would’ve died if you’d taken me there. Seriously.”

“You would’ve died? Seriously? It looked like you almost died last night! What happened? How much did you drink? Do you think you got roofied?”

“No. I think I mixed my alcohol.”

“Then those guys in the alley. I’m sorry your birthday ended up like that.”

I’m more upset over Noah’s announcement than those guys in the alley. But I would never tell Alice that. “So you’re moving in with Noah?”

“Yeah, we’re starting to move my stuff into his duplex today.”

“Not wasting any time.”

“We’ve lost enough time with him being gone in the military. I mean—it’s all going to be worth it in the end. So, anyhow, I can come be there with you. Need me to come get you?”

“No. Keaton will give me a ride. Thanks for telling everyone I stayed with you.”

“I wish you would’ve. I feel horrible.”

“Nothing happened.”

“Keaton blackmailed you—and then you end up at his place.”

“Alice, you’re the one that said he was harmless and probably pranking me.”

I hear her sigh. “Still. I just feel like a bad sister.”

“You? Please. You’re always there worrying and just being Alice.”

“Please call me later, okay?”

“Okay.”

We say our goodbyes and hang up. I debate on texting Roland back. What if he asks questions? How will I explain being in another guy’s bed, even though nothing happened?I’m a mess—figuratively and literally. I can feel the makeup caked on from last night. My eyes have crusties and I feel like I was hit by a truck. I feel gross, so I make my way back to the bathroom. My mouth feels disgusting, so I grab a bottle of mouthwash and rinse. It still doesn’t help. I pour some mouthwash on Keaton’s toothbrush and try to pre-clean it before placing toothpaste on it. It’s gross using someone else’s toothbrush—but we’ve kissed, right? I don’t know, but I can’t stand how gross my mouth feels right now. Next, I undress and help myself to the shower. When I finish, I grab one of Keaton’s large shirts from his closet and put it on with a pair of boxers I find in his top dresser drawer.

I wander into the kitchen to find that Keaton has sandwiches sitting on the counter. I thank him and we eat in silence. Hating the tension between us, I nudge his knee with mine.

“You never gave me my present.”

“Still want it?”

“I always want it.” I blush at how that came out. Keaton chuckles, and it’s good to see the playfulness return to his eyes. He takes our plates and puts them in the sink. “Go sit in the living room and wait for me.” From down the hall, he calls out, “Try to stay awake this time.”

Smartass.

He returns with a beautifully wrapped navy blue package. He hands it to me and whispers, “Happy Birthday.”

I place the package in my lap and tentatively begin opening it. I notice him heading back down the hallway. I wonder if I’m supposed to wait for him before I finish opening it, but he gave it to me, so I continue. Once it’s unwrapped, there’s a solid black box. I remove the lid to find an iPod with a note that says, Play Me… Now.

I swipe the screen and press play. A song I don’t recognize fills the room. It sounds very… sensual. He emerges from the hallway in his construction overalls, complete with a hat and tool belt. Slowly, he saunters toward me.

“Reporting for duty. To be of any service.”

I burst out laughing. He removes his belt and begins performing crude gestures.

“I hear you like to get hammered, young lady?”

I shake my head dying with laughter. “No. Just no.”

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