Page 51 of He Sees You When You’re Sleeping

Chapter Nineteen

Chloe

“How in the hell do you look so good, when I feel like death?” I ask as Sloane appears perfectly put together in her expensive designer suit, not a hair out of place. “We drank the same amount. It’s not fair.”

Sloane flashes me a brilliant smile, her teeth impossibly white. “Years of practice, my friend. And a little help from drug of choice.” She gestures to the steaming travel mug in her hand.

I groan and rub my temples. “I think I’ve had enough coffee for one day.” I look down at my borrowed shirt from Jack. “Coffee mishap this morning. Now I’m wearing Jack’s shirt.”

Sloane raises an eyebrow. “Jack’s shirt, huh? Booty call last night?”

I shake my head. “I ran into him this morning. Literally.”

Sloane chuckles, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against her coffee mug. “Sure...”

I roll my eyes, wincing as the movement sends a sharp pain through my skull. “Anyway,” I continue. “Show me the new necklaces you told me about so I can get home and crawl back into bed. I’m questioning this trip to the office now.”

Sloane’s eyes light up, her hangover seemingly nonexistent as she practically bounces on her heels. “Oh, you’re going to love them! Come on, they’re in my office.”

I follow her down the hallway, my feet dragging slightly. The fluorescent lights are doing nothing for my headache.

As we enter her office, Sloane heads straight for her desk, pulling out a small, velvet-covered box. She opens it with a flourish, revealing a stunning array of delicate gold necklaces, each adorned with a unique pendant.

“Voila! What do you think?” she asks, her voice brimming with excitement.

I move closer, squinting slightly to focus on the intricate details. Despite my hangover-induced haze, I take the time to admire the craftsmanship. “They’re beautiful, Sloane. Really stunning work.”

She beams at me, clearly proud of her latest creations. “I knew you’d love them. Tyler saw them yesterday and said they may be too basic, but he’s a man, so what does he know.”

Grrr, Tyler. I realize my groan was audible.

Sloane’s eyes narrow, her smile fading slightly. “What’s that about? You having issues with Tyler?”

I wave my hand dismissively, trying to backtrack. “No, no. It’s just... my head. The hangover, you know.”

Sloane doesn’t look convinced. She sets down the jewelry box and crosses her arms, fixing me with a penetrating stare. “Come on, spill. I know he can be a pain in the ass sometimes. He follows every rule to a tee, and can be super uptight. But he’s harmless. You just have to know how to work with the man. Not against him. Is he riding your ass?”

I sigh, knowing I can’t escape Sloane’s interrogation. “It’s nothing, really. He’s just... Are you sure he’s harmless? I get a weird feeling sometimes.”

Sloane’s perfectly arched eyebrow rises even higher. “Weird feeling? What do you mean?”

I hesitate, not sure how to put my vague suspicions into words. “I don’t know exactly. It’s just... sometimes I catch him watching me when he thinks I’m not looking. And he’s shown up at my house twice now completely out of the blue.”

Sloane’s expression shifts from curiosity to concern. “At your house? That’s... unusual.”

I nod, relieved that Sloane seems to be taking me seriously. “Exactly.”

“Has he done anything?”

I shake my head. “No. Not really. He’s asked me on a date, I guess. But in a weird way. It’s hard to explain. I’m trying to brush him off and not make it weird between us. But it’s weird between us.” I shrug. “I don’t want to make anything of it because nothing really has happened. But—”

Just then, we hear footsteps approaching. Sloane quickly picks up the jewelry box again, resuming our facade of casual conversation. As the door opens, I turn to see who it is, my heart racing.

It’s Tyler, his eyes immediately locking onto mine.

“Hey ladies,” Tyler says, his voice smooth as silk. “Hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”

I force a smile, trying to keep my voice steady. “Not at all. Just girl talk.”

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