Page 213 of Dark Love

“Where would you like this?” the butler asks.

“In my bedroom. It’s this one.” I walk over to the open door, gesturing to an empty chair to place the bear on.

Oh, I need to tip them. I rush over to my purse to grab some money. “Thank you.” I walk over to the younger man to shake his hand.

“You’re welcome, but everything has been taken care of.” He doesn’t accept the bill I try to slip to him.

Vex.

I slide the card out of the floral arrangement and make my way back to the living room as the butler leaves.

“Who is it from?” Harper asks.

“Prue’s boyfriend,” Junie answers.

All eyes turn to me. “We still haven’t talked about our accomplishments from last year.”

Dylan snorts but doesn’t push back.

“Who wants to start?” Garnet leans back against the bar, setting her glass down.

Junie raises her hand. “I’ll go first.” There’s excitement in her voice. “My latest release hit number one on the charts for the first time ever. It stayed there for over a week.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“Way to go.”

“You worked so hard for this.”

We all cheer for her.

As they go around the room, I sneak a peek at the card.

Dahl,

I thought you might need something to hug since you won’t have my arms around you, helping you to fall asleep.

Stay safe

Vex

“Prue, you’re up. What was your biggest accomplishment this year?” Keely asks.

“I got a job in Urbium,” I blurt out the words without thinking about where that might lead the conversation.

“Wait, you live in Urbium?” Fiona asks from the corner where she’s sitting reading a book. “We live in Urbium.”

“You do?” How did I not know that already? That means I have friends in town.

“Yeah. You need to come visit the café and have lunch with Daria and I.”

That would be a dream come true. Friends. I’d have real live girlfriends to hang out with.

Garnet jumps up in her seat. “Now that everyone has had a turn—”

“Colin hasn’t,” Piper interrupts.

Everyone turns to look at him.

---