Page 38 of Property of Azrael

Can I help?

No, baby, you get some sleep. You had a big day. Don’t forget to email your boss.

I type out a reply, but the message goes unread.

I flop onto the bed, still askew from our pre-event activities, the lingering smell of his sandalwood cologne heavy on the sheets. Drawing them to my face, I inhale his scent. There’s something about the way a man smells that puts you at ease when they’re away. I’d read that during wars, women would send letters to their men, sprayed with their perfume as a reminder of them waiting back home. I get now why they did that.

The door lock clicks open, and I bolt up from the bed. My excitement dampens when Eden and Fox step into the room.

“Forgot something downstairs. Found this guy wandering around, so I invited him up. Hope you don’t mind.” She closes the door, while Fox sets the box next to her bed.

“I thought you guys were meeting up to get ready for tomorrow?”

Guilt flashes through his eyes, but it’s gone as quick as it came.

“I got my shit handled,” he replies coolly. “When you don’t unpack at every stop, you don’t have to repack.” He smacks his hands together. “So, what are you ladies up to tonight?”

“Afterparty,” Eden responds. “A small, intimate gathering of friends and booze.”

I flinch at the mention of another party. The last one she dragged me to didn’t quite go so well. To be honest, I hadn’t really forgiven her for ditching me, and I’m not sure I’m up for a second try without having Azrael with me.

His smile grows wide. “Sounds like my kind of gathering.”

“You’re welcome to join me,” she purrs. “Doesn’t hurt to have a hot guy on my arm.”

Fox winks at her, then turns his attention to me. “What about you, Hallie? You going?”

“I think I’ll stay here. I need to make some phone calls.” My mom has been texting me since I sent her the picture of my table, and I needed to call Melinda to let her know I wouldn’t be coming back on Tuesday as planned.

Eden crosses the room and crouches down in front of me. “If this is about last night, I’m so, so, so sorry about what happened.”

“It’s not,” I half-lie. “My social battery is just drained.”

“Are you sure?” Eden asks, reaching and grabbing my hand. “I don’t mind staying in, if that’s what you want to do.” She rubs her hands over her face. “I feel awful. This weekend was supposed to be about you and I hanging out, and I’ve screwed it all up. We could order dinner in and talk.”

“I think I’d like that.”

“Then it’s a date. But what do we do with him?” Eden and I both glance over at Fox, who’s standing by the door. He slowly raises his hands like a criminal in the spotlight.

“Good question,” I giggle. “How are you with girl talk, Fox?”

He narrows his eyes. “We gonna talk about you and Az?”

“Yes!” Eden shouts out over my “No!”

“I’m in. I got a side bet with O about it.”

“What is with you guys and bets?”

Though Azrael’s bet not only gave me back my confidence with selling out of my books, but the opportunity to vacation with him as well. A chance to see where this road might take us. There are no guarantees in life. After spending so much of the last couple of years alone because of the pandemic, I’d learn that hard truth. Being able to see friends, experience adventures, and, in this case, find someone I truly liked, it’s a gift. Just like my misfortune with Wanda, giving me an adventure I didn’t know I needed. While I had been so against the bet and what Az had offered, I find myself quite changed in opinion.

I want to go with him.

“So before we get into the juicy details, based on the state of your bed earlier, dinner?” Fox waggles his brows, a knowing smile of what had transpired earlier between Az and I. Once he knows, so will the rest of them. I just have to come to terms with the idea of Fox telling them all later. It should definitely make the ride down to Mexico interesting.

“I can go get my snacks.”

“No!” I shout. “No one wants any of your snacks.”

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