Page 34 of Meet Me at the Metro

“Oh, that’s okay,” I smile, stepping past him to the padlock and entering the number code. “It’s late, and I’m sure my roommates are waiting for me inside. Thank you again… for tonight. It was nice. I didn’t know how much I needed it. Maybe we can schedule more of these studysessionsin the future.”

“Yeah. I’d love that.” He nods eagerly, pulling me into an embrace and bidding me a final goodbye. “Have a nice night, Ellie.”

“You too.”

My back falls against the entrance door as it shuts behind me. I pinch the bridge of my nose tightly, exhaling a deep breath as I overanalyze everything I just said to him and his reactions.I hope I’m not giving him the wrong impression.

We’re just friends; he has to know that.

I try not to contemplate the thought too seriously as I force my feet up the stairs and open the door to the flat. Harvey and Evie are lounging across the couch, watching a movie as I step inside. Their heads immediately jerk back as their ears register my late arrival.

“Well, well, well,” Evie taunts with a promiscuous smile. “Look what the cat dragged in. And so late, too.”

“It’s not that late.”

“No,midnight’snot late at all,” Harvey chuckles. He looks me over with an inspecting gaze and adds more fuel to Evie’s fire as he teases, “Out with Theo on anotheradventure?”

“Absolutely not. That’s thelast thingI wanna do on my Friday night. I was with my friend, Connor. We had a study session over dinner tonight.”

“Oh,a study session. You hear that, Harvey? She was having astudy sessionwith herfriendConnor. He’s a good friend, huh?”

“Would you leave the poor girl alone! He’s just a friend,” Harvey snickers. “She’s obviously still caught up on Theo.”

This sends them both into a fit of giggles, and I pick up a stray decorative pillow from the floor and chuck it at the two of them to shut them up. “You guys are ridiculous!”

“She’s not denying any of our accusations, Harv.”

“Nothing is going on between Connor and me.”

Harvey shrugs. “Theo’s still on the table, though?”

“Nothing is going on with Theo and me, either! In fact, from now on, all of the relationships in my life involving the male species will remain completelyplatonic.”

“Oh, give me a bloody break,” Evie cackles, doubled over the backside of the couch. “You won’t be saying that when that pussy starts starving for some tender love and care.”

“Evie, language!” Harvey reprimands.

“I’m fully capable of giving mypussytender love and care on my own.”

“Ellie!” He gasps as the uncensored word spills from my lips, and now we’re all laughing so hard we can barely get another word out. Harvey’s the first to finally get a hold of his breath. “Okay then, Miss Platonic Vagina, you got any plans tomorrow night?”

“No, not that I know of.” I sling my backpack off onto the floor and squeeze between the two of them on the couch. “How come?”

“There’s a show I’m putting on tomorrow night atGullie’s.I’d love for you to come. Evie will be there,” he adds as if that’s supposed to bring me a sense of comfort.

“I would love to. What time does it start?”

“11:00.”

“And whatkindof show are we discussing here, Harv?” I prod, thoroughly intrigued.

“I suppose you’ll have to come and see for yourself.”

“Plus, a night out gives us an excuse to shop for new outfits,especially for you.” Evie taps the tips of her fingers together mischievously. “Skin is in, baby, and you’re not showing enough of it.”

She was too damn promiscuous for her own good, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t secretly love it.

“Sure,” I smirk, “and we can find you a nice little cardigan while we’re at it.”

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