Page 82 of Crave Me

She wants to let loose while her “overprotective, alpha brothers are fucking off” *laugh emoji*

Me:

That sounds great. I’m assuming The Night Owl?

Ivy:

Unfortunately. But it should be fun. 7 p.m.

Me:

lol! Meet you there!

Excited that I won’t be spending another night alone, I pack up my stuff and head back to the apartment to get ready for a girls’night—something I haven’t really had before. Up until I moved to Aspen Ridge, I’ve stayed reclusive. It’s hard for me to put my walls down long enough to get close to people. But I feel at home in AR and want nothing more than to stay here and make it my forever home.

Stripping out of my office clothes, I dig through my little closet to find something cute enough to wear out with Ivy and Kinsey. There’s a lingering pressure for them to like me, wanting their approval because I’m sleeping with their family member. Which sounds as crazy as it is. Maybe if Dallas and I decide to come out to everyone, they will be supportive of it because they like me.

I reach for my favorite pair of dark denim jeans that have always made me feel confident. They cling to my shapely bottom half, accentuating every curve that I love so much. I pull on a cream boatneck sweater, my favorite brown booties, big yellow gold hoop earrings, and attempt to tame my hair. The winter air has been kind to me, but once summer arrives it will be a whole different story. Any amount of humidity will wreak havoc on my already wild locks. After I douse it with a hearty spray of dry shampoo and freshen up my makeup, I grab my purse, coat, and lock up, heading down the stairs toward The Night Owl.

“Where do you think you’re goin’?” Reid’s voice echoes through the small alley I’m walking through between our building and the one next to us on Main Street. A quick burst of fear rushes through me before I register the voice’s owner. I look back to find the tattooed beast walking behind me. He’s wearing a pair of black jeans, brown boots that lace up the front, a tight white shirt, and a brown jacket. His tattoos peek out over his clothes on every inch of exposed skin, minus his face. His hair is down, slightly wet like he has showered recently, and hanging loosely.

“Out, creeper. Where are you going? It’s frowned upon to stalk unsuspecting girls in a dark alley. Don’t you know better?” I say jokingly. His steps falter and I cock my head to the side to study him.

“I wouldn’t hurt you, B.” His voice is laced with hurt and concern.

“Reid, I was just making a joke, of course I know you’d never hurt me. Or anyone for that matter.”

He nods in understanding before joining me, and together we walk out of the alley and onto the cobblestone sidewalk of downtown Aspen Ridge. I pull my thick coat closer, the breeze chilling me to my bones.

“I’m heading to girls’ night at the bar with Ivy and Kinsey. Want to crash it?”

He gives me a devilish smile and loops his arm in mine, pulling me along with him in the direction of The Night Owl. Reid has to be the most genuine, sweetest man I’ve ever met in my life, and how he hasn’t been snatched up is beyond me. He’s going to make someone extremely happy someday.

After a short walk, we arrive at our destination and Reid opens the door for me, the warm heat blasting my face, and I immediately want my coat off of my body. Shrugging out of it, I look around the room until I find the girls sitting in a booth in front of a big window at the back of the bar.

“Look who I found, mind if he joins us?”

“Never! He’s an honorary girls’ night attendee,” Ivy says as Reid takes a seat next to her in the booth. I slide in next to Kinsey, whose face is a little flushed, and who hasn’t said a word yet, her eyes darting around nervously.

“Hey, everything okay?” I whisper to her.

“Uhm, yeah, why wouldn’t it be? Of course everything is okay.”

“Just making sure. You look a little flustered.”

“Oh, it’s just warm in here. I’m good. Glad you could make it.”

“Thanks for inviting me. It’s been forever since I had a girls’ night.”

And by forever, I mean forever. As in, not ever.

“What can I get you lovely ladies to drink?” Reid asks.

“Water for me.”

“Midori sour sounds good tonight,” Kinsey says, and I agree.

“Same for me. You’re the best.”

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