Page 157 of They Break Beauty
I opened it with bated breath.
Chloe: Sorry I’ve been AWOL, Bree. Lots been happening here. Are we still good?
Brianna: We’re good. I get it, no worries.
Chloe: Oh, thank fuck. I thought you’d be pissed at me for basically ghosting you. It really wasn’t intentional, I swear. Life just got in the way, all the craziness, you know?
Oh, I did know. Definitely.
Brianna: Totally understand. Things have been crazy on my end too.
Chloe: I’ll say. I heard the rumors and the talk all over the campus social media. You’re dating the leaders of Hex? That’s some insanity right there. The hot kind, no doubt.
Before I could figure out how to respond to that, she sent another text.
Chloe: I want to hear all about it. Every dirty little detail too. I’m coming back tonight! For real this time. You up for meeting for a coffee?
Oh my God.
Brianna: Of course! Send me the details and I’ll be there.
Chloe: Yay! See you soon, babe.
I couldn’t believe it. After all this time, I was finally going to see my friend again.
And, boy, did we have a lot to talk about.
She had been the only thing missing from things being perfect, so with her coming back now everything could fall into place.
I fired off a message to the group text with the guys.
Brianna: Need to raincheck tonight. Chloe coming back into town. Meeting for coffee.
Colt: I’m bummed we can’t hang, but happy you get to see your friend again. It’s been way too long for you guys.
Brianna: Thanks, cupcake.
Colt: Love you calling me that.
Brianna: Well, it’s so accurate, I can’t help it.
Levi: Chloe Anders is coming back here tonight? Why?
I figured he wouldn’t be pleased we had to cancel our date.
I might have noticed him going to a lot of effort to tone down his intensity so it didn’t come off as overbearing, and him also loosening up a little there, but it wasn’t going to disappear entirely, it was a part of him, of our dynamic.
Brianna: Didn’t say exactly. Just happy I get to see her.
Levi: Right, sure.
I frowned at that. Levi was usually so supportive with absolutely everything. Maybe it was just about me having to raincheck things?
Before I could think more on it, a message from Mason came into the group chat.
Mason: Have fun with your friend. We’ll come by your place for a nightcap.
Colt: Translation: we’ll fuck you to sleep, cutie.
