Page 28 of Pretty Little Thing

Seven

Nora

I stareat myself in the rearview mirror. This entire night has been taken one step at a time. First, I was at home and all I needed to do was focus on getting dressed. Then, it was doing my hair and throwing on some make-up. Small, easy tasks I do every single day of my life. No big deal. Nothing to worry about...

Then, it was getting in the car and driving through town to The Red Brick Road — or more specifically, the parking garage down the street, where I’ve been sitting and staring at myself for the last ten — make that fifteen — minutes.

This is what I want,I keep telling myself.

So, why was it so difficult to walk in there?

Clive,obviously.

He could be in there now, a familiar face among a sea of strangers. And a handsome one at that.

But the thing is... I’m not sure if I want to run into him tonight. Or if I don’t want to.

Well, I won’t do either if I keep my ass in this car, so I should make a choice now.

Anytime now.

You seem like you’d be a lot of fun.

He said that to me. He said he wanted me to keep coming to the club.

I don’t want to get scared off. I want to have some fun. For once in… well, forever, it feels like.

Okay, how about this? Just open the door.

That’s easy. You do that every single day. Just lay your hand on the doorknob and push the car door open.

There. I did it.

Now, step out.

There we go…

Now, close the door...

I take it slowly, quickly tapping my key fob to lock it down behind me.

I pause and reach into my jacket pocket, feeling for the soft, white material of Clive’s handkerchief stuffed inside. I pinch the corners and roll it up like he did to make it easy to wrap around my neck.

“Agh—”

I cough and loosen it.

Christ, I’m so nervous, I nearly choked myself.

Why does that turn me on?

I take a deep breath and lean over to get one last good look at myself in my car window before marching toward the parking garage stairwell.

It’s a clear night in Chicago. A little warm, but that just might be my body heat spiking upward with each step I take down the street.

That flashing red sign comes into view and I bite my cheek. Excitement builds in my chest. My palms break into a sweat.

Relax, he told me. Your secret is safe with me.

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