Page 92 of Meet Me at Midnight

“God, you’re such an old man!” Avery groans, but Beau just flashes a grin and walks inside his condo and shuts the door.

I unlock the door to our condo, stepping inside, and Avery follows. She heads straight for the kitchen and tosses her purse onto the marble island.

“Gahh, tonight was the best, wasn’t it?” she questions and plops down onto one of the stools. “I swear DJ Andre is so good, he has to be a part of the illuminati.”

“What?” I ask on a shocked laugh.

“You know…sold his soul to the devil for fame and stuff.”

I shake my head as she heads to the fridge and grabs a bottle of Fiji water. She won’t drink any lesser brand, and even at that, she turns up her nose at the cheapness of the bottle. “Ugh. I just don’t understand why they wouldn’t use all glass bottles.”

I shrug. “Probably because of cost.”

“What a stupid reason,” she scoffs, but she takes a drink anyway.

“Avery,honey,” I say through a soft laugh. “You’ve never had to worry about money when it comes to groceries, but other people do.”

“Not you,” she challenges.

“No, not me. My parents have gifted me with all the things money can buy and, still, look at me. Certified proof that money doesn’t buy happinessorlove.”

“Screw them,” Avery says to that, setting her bottle on the counter and walking toward me. “Use what they gave you and forget the rest.” She pulls me in for a hug that doesn’t quite make sense when combined with her words. “You are in a position of privilege. You can do what you want with it.”

“Yeah.” I shrug again. “I guess you’re right.”

Seriousness sufficiently spent, she chucks me on the shoulder before picking her bottle back up and heading for her bedroom. “Okay, then. I’m gonna go diddle my doodle to fall asleep. Toodle-oo until tomorrow!”

Goodness, she’s crazy.

I watch her retreat all the way down the hallway, and I don’t stop looking in that direction until I hear her door fall closed.Instantly, as if it’s a premeditated routine—probably because it freaking is—I pull my phone out of my purse and open my Midnight chat with Beau. I hate that we didn’t get to kiss goodbye, but messaging is at least something.

ElizaBeth: Are you still awake over there?

Not even ten seconds later, my phone vibrates in my hands.

ThunderStruck: We just got home. Of course I’m still awake.

ElizaBeth: I hate that we didn’t get to have a real goodbye.

Trust me, I know there’s a host of other things I should be thinking about right now, very serious things I should be focused on—like how I’m going to tell Avery the truth about Beau and me—but my Beau-craving body has something else in mind.

ThunderStruck: Oh yeah? What would you have done if Avery hadn’t been with us?

My answer is immediate.

ElizaBeth: Kissed you.

ThunderStruck: And then?

ElizaBeth: I’m not sure I would have been in charge.

ThunderStruck: Why not? You in charge sounds sexy. In fact, maybe you should be in charge right now. Go into your bedroom and get on your bed, and we can put each other to sleep with a little sexy messaging.

Oh boy.I’m already walking to my bedroom and shutting the door behind me.

ElizaBeth: It’s a damn shame you can’t undress me right now.

ThunderStruck: Fuck. What’s your underwear look like?

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