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.

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