Page 31 of Meet Me at Midnight

Oceanview is Avery’s favorite club in downtown Miami and one we’ve frequented on more than a hundred occasions. Back in college, I was a lot easier to drag along, and Avery talked her way to a C in every class enough to keep her dad off her back, so we were considered regulars in every way you can imagine.

We did have a conversation earlier today in which I promised to go to Oceanview on Saturday, but seeing as today is still Thursday, this is Avery’s version of trying to pull a fast one.

“I promised we would go Saturday night. Today is Thursday.”

“Are you sure today isn’t Saturday?”

I roll my eyes. “Pretty sure, considering we had work today and the calendar says Thursday.”

“Okay, but, like, I’m ready now, so why don’t we just go?”

I shake my head and laugh. “No way, José. I’m already ready for bed.”

“Forbed? Please, June, you’re just making my argument stronger. I mean, really, this is a cry for help.”

“I’m not going out tonight.” My phone vibrates in my hand, andThunderStruck has reentered the chatpopulates on the screen.

Holy shit. He’s back.

Immediately, I can feel my pulse thrumming at the base of my neck. It takes everything I have not to stare at the phone while Avery is still in the room, and I’m nowhere near strong enough to resist a glance or two.

When he still hasn’t said anything fifteen seconds later, I start to wonder if I should be the one to break the ice since Iamthe one who left the note to meet me here.

“Are you listening to anything I’m saying?” Avery asks frustratedly, yanking my attention back to my door.

“Yeah.”

“Then what did I just say?” Her stance is defiant and challenging, and I search my mind for any remnant of her words. When I can’t find any, guilt niggles. I’m completely ignoring my best friend in favor of my secret boner for her brother—if this isn’t the whole reason for every tête-à-tête for this particular trope, I don’t know what is.

Still, I don’t want to go out, and I really need her to leave. I try to nudge her in that direction as gently as possible.

“I’m really sorry I wasn’t listening, Ave. Really. I’m just tired and distracted andseriouslynot in the mood to go out. But we’ll catch up soon. A whole convo, margs, club crawl, and pajamas and takeout at five a.m. kind of night, I promise. Okay?”

“God, June,” she huffs, even stomping her stiletto-covered foot. “We’re young. We’re supposed to be going out, living life, getting guys to cover our tabs, and dancing our assess off. What we shouldn’t be doing is sitting home on a Thursday night like some kind of single mom who works two jobs.”

“Does she love her kids? Does she never stop?”

“What?”

“Nothing.”Just Reba.

Avery narrows her eyes and charges toward me, plopping down onto my bed and making my heart rate soar right past fat-burning mode and straight to max capacity. At the same time, my phone vibrates in my hands, and I clutch it as tight to my lap as I can manage without drawing her attention.

I don’t know what the message says, but now, thanks to my bedmate, I’m going to have to wait.

“C’mon, June.” She reaches out to pat my sweatpants-covered thigh. “Just get up, get dressed, and come out with me.”

“Sorry, Avery, but I’m staying in tonight.”

She flashes her famous sad eyes at me, the same desperate eyes she gives her dad whenever she wants him to add an increase to her already-large monthly allowance. “Please?”

I shake my head.

“June!” she cries again, snatching my phone from my claws and waving it in the air. My lungs seize and my heart drops, my wide eyes bouncing back and forth as she waves my phone dramatically. “What are you even doing, by the way? Spendingall night on your phone?” She shakes her head. “You know, I read a study about how bad it is to be addicted to technology. You should really do something about it.”

“A study?” I question harshly, reaching for my phone and jerking it out of her grasp.

She rolls her eyes. “Fine. A TikTok. Same difference. I mean, look at you. You’re practically salivating.”

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