Page 102 of The Baller

“Yeah, okay. As long as I can pick,” I grinned, just as my cell rang. All three of us peered over the flashing screen laying on the floor. “I’ll catch you up.”

“I’m still not supporting The Lions,” Ben grumbled to Henry as they walked out. I didn’t wait for them to close the door before I reached for it.

“Hey! There’s no way you’re there already.”

Lux chuckled down the line. “Not exactly. You were right about the weather – I got rerouted.”

“Oh no, that’s a bummer. Where are you stuck?”

“Funny you should ask. I’m in D.C.”

I bolted upright so quickly I nearly fell off the bed. “As in, here? Where I am? That D.C.?”

“The very same. I got a room at the Four Seasons. The storm is supposed to die down enough by tomorrow morning, so I’ll fly out then. I asked for a suite facing the White House, so I can spend the night looking for you. If squint really hard, I bet I could find your bedroom.”

I’d kind of stopped listening.

Glancing at my list, I could see a note in the middle I’d crossed out:Be Braver.

Lux was a mile away from me. I knew if I asked to go and see him there’s no way my parents would say yes, especially as I was supposed to attend the charity dinner… but I wasn’t the daughter of a C.I.A. operative for nothing.

One way or another I was getting out of this place tonight, and I was going to see Lux.

For once in their lives, my brothers could cover for me.

TWENTY

LUX

Knock.Knock. Knock.

I rubbed a towel through my wet hair, and muted the T.V. cursing myself for forgetting to hang theDo Not Disturbsign on the door. I had plans to watch a movie and wait for Radley to finish at her dinner party, or whatever it was, so I could call her and talk until we fell asleep.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I couldn’t ignore them because they’d let themselves in, but also, I was naked. And then there was the other matter of the little chocolate snacks they brought, which I wanted.

“Hang on.”

I grabbed the robe hanging in the bathroom, and shrugged it on just as I opened the door.

It was better than a turn down service. Way better.

“Are you going to stand there gawking, or let me in?”

My eyes flicked behind her to Jake, and the smirk he was trying to hold back.

“There’s no one here, except me.”

“We still need to sweep.”

I knew the drill by now, even if I did roll my eyes every time. Opening the door for them to come in, I pulled Radley into my chest while we waited for Jake and Ethan to be done finding absolutely nothing of interest.

“What are you doing here?” I whispered.

“I wanted to see you,” she smiled. It was a smile that could melt the snow settling fast across D.C. By the morning, there’d be a thick layer.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in the middle of a dinner? How did you persuade your mom to not go?”

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