Page 52 of Sack

Ivy looked over at Tina and then the open door leading to the other room. Tina was snoring and dead to the world, but she didn’t want to disturb the others.

I can’t talk. I’m not alone.

The three little dots started blinking again. Longer this time. Either he was writing a novel or typing and erasing. She pushed herself into a seated position, resting her back against the headboard to keep from falling asleep.

She rapidly blinked to clear her vision when his text arrived.

What do you mean you’re not alone?

She was too tired to try to figure out why it had taken him so long to write a single sentence.

I have a roommate. Tina and I are sharing a room to split the cost.

Mr. Multi-Millionaire probably forgot the concept of needing to save money. And he knew who Tina was. They’d had a whole conversation about her friends—which had really been more an interrogation. If Colt was so protective in a non-relationship, she’d hate to see what he was like in a real one.

You must be tired. I’ll let you get some sleep.

You need sleep, too. You have practice in the morning.

Don’t worry about me. Worry about you. Stay safe and keep in touch.

I’ll try. I have a busy day tomorrow.

Try hard.

She didn’t bother to respond to that bossy command, just wished him a good night and clicked off her phone. She snuggled back into her covers, closed her eyes, and was asleep within minutes.

“Has anyone seen my armbands?” Tina stood in the bathroom doorway dressed in a cream tunic top and white capris. She held a pair of brown combat boots in one hand and a long, brown belt in the other.

Ivy scanned their room. It looked like a clothes bomb had exploded. “Have you checked under that pile on your bed?”

“They weren’t there.”

“Have you checked your bag?”

“Yes. It’s empty.”

ThatIvy could believe. “Well, they’ve got to be around somewhere.” Ivy went to Tina’s bed and started moving stuff around. “Are these them?” she asked, holding up two long scraps of cream linen.

“Oh, my God, yes.” She tossed the boots and belt on the floor and held out her arms. “Will you help me tie them on?”

Ivy pushed up the oversized sleeves of her LeiaNew Hopecostume, but they kept falling to cover the tops of her hands. Giving up, she gave the sleeves a few rolls to keep them out of her way as she twisted the linen strips up Tina’s forearms.

“You should totally be wearing Leia’s bikini slave outfit. You look hot in that.”

“I’m saving it for the costume party.” One arm done and tied, she started on the other.

“Maybe you’ll find yourself a hot Han to hook up with like you did two years ago.”

“I did not hook up with that guy.”

“Oh, so that was some other Princess Leia who was making out with him in the X-wing simulator?”

Ivy stopped wrapping to look at her friend. “No, that was me, but we didn’t have sex.”

“Pity. He was really cute.”

Ivy went back to work, tying the material to hold it in place. “Besides, I’m not looking for anyone. I’m already having sex with someone, remember?”

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