Page 60 of February

“I’m getting tired, too.”

“Oh. Okay. Yeah, we can go.”

“We’ll see you later,” Bridgette said as she stood.

“Nice to meet you again, Monica,” Kyle spoke.

“You too,” Monica replied before she stood up next to Bridgette, and they pushed their way through the crowd and back onto the street.

“What was that about?” Monica asked her.

“Nothing. I just got really tired.”

“You had one drink, like, an hour ago.”

“Lightweight, I guess. Let’s get out of the Quarter so you can order your car.”

“We can walk, if you want.”

“No, I’m okay with giving into the town car.”

“You called it atown car,” Monica noted, seemingly excited as she looped her arm through Bridgette’s.

“Awe… You just got drunk, didn’t you?”

“A little.”

They started walking, and Monica ordered a car for them to take back to the Four Seasons. When they arrived, they both got out, and Bridgette stood there for a minute while Monica fished her room key out of her back pocket.

“I’m ready.”

“I see that. Let this nice gentleman get you up to your room now,” Bridgette said, motioning for the doorman.

“Where’s your car?”

“The garage right over there.” Bridgette pointed across the street.

“I should walk you.”

“No, you should take a shower, drink water, and get to sleep. I’ll be fine.”

“Can I help you, Miss?” the doorman asked.

“Can you make sure she gets up to her room safely?” Bridgette asked.

“Of course, Ma’am.”

“Bridgette, be safe.” Monica leaned in and kissed her quickly on the cheek. “Okay?”

Bridgette stood there speechless but managed a nod.

CHAPTER 14

Monica heard her phone ringing, but she could have sworn she’d had it on do-not-disturb until eight. She opened her eyes reluctantly and reached for it on the table next to her bed. That was when she saw Lily’s name on her screen.

“Fuck,” she muttered groggily.

Lily was one of the people on her phone for whom do-not-disturb didn’t apply to in case something happened to Aaron. She didn’t want to take the call because she knew what it was about, but she’d only be delaying the inevitable, and it was better to have this out while she was alone in her hotel room and not in the office later.

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