Page 61 of Ink & Stardust

“What?” Char smiles. “It’s true.”

“That’s irrelevant. I have not, and will not, be sleeping with him. I will, however, enjoy the delicious cocktails he’ll happily serve me.”

“So what I’m hearing is you’re stringing him along for drinks,” I tease.

“I hate you both.” She stomps toward her wardrobe and starts rummaging through the contents. “Between you and Kai fucking each other’s brains out and Char spending every secondtexting her new mystery man, I’m starting to think I need to find better friends.”

“Mystery man?” My gaze swings to Charlotte, who blushes uncharacteristically. “Char?” I question, realizing maybe I’ve been a lot more distracted than I realized if I haven’t even noticed she’s talking to someone new.

“It’s nothing. We’re just texting.”

“Who is it?” I pry.

“Don’t even try. I grilled her for two hours yesterday, and she didn’t budge,” Maisie tells me.

“I just don’t want to... jinx it,” she explains.

“Wait.” I sit up straighter. “You, worried about jinxing something.” I grin. “Youreallylike this guy.”

“Maybe.” She shrugs, not able to hide the smile that tugs at the corner of her mouth. “But it’s still really new. We haven’t even spent any real time together.”

“And you won’t tell us who it is?” Not gonna lie, I’m a bit surprised by this. Charlotte is usually an open book about, well, everything.

“Not yet. I will if it turns out being anything. Until then, it’s my secret.”

“I feel like I’m living in upside-down world,” Maisie grumbles, turning back to face the room. “Lyric has gone bad girl and is getting her brains fucked out daily. And now Char is all hearts in her eyes over some guy when a few weeks ago all she wanted to do was have fun with no commitment. It’s like you two have switched places.”

“You’re just pissy because the guy you liked blew you off.” Charlotte tries her best to line her words with apology, but I’m not sure they help lessen the blow. I don’t have to ask. She’s talking about Macallan.

Maisie opens her mouth, but I’m quick to cut in, desperate to prevent a fight between my only two real friends on campus. Not to mention, I have to live with them.

“Fine, I’ll go.” I stand, drawing Maisie’s focus to me. “You’re right. I have beendistractedlately, and we could use some girl time.”

Maisie’s gaze swings back to Char. “You owe her a thank you later,” she tells her, turning back to her wardrobe.

Two hours later, we’re all sitting around a high-top bar table, laughing like Maisie wasn’t about to rip Char’s head off earlier or anything. The Cosmos help, not that I’m the one drinking them down like they’re water. We’ve been here over an hour and I’m still sipping on my first one.

I may be going through something lately, a quarter life crisis of sorts, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy drinking any more than I did a month ago. No, I prefer to get my buzz another way. A much hotter, pleasurable way.

I smile to myself.

“There you go again.” Maisie groans, my gaze pivoting to see she’s looking atme.

“Huh?” I blink, confused.

“Looking off into LaLa land with a smile on your face.” She points at me. “Daydreaming about Kai?” she asks teasingly.

“Shhh.” I hush her, taking another small sip of my drink.

“Please tell me you’re not falling for him.” Her eyes narrow in on mine.

“So what if she is?” Char interrupts and we both look her way. “If she’s happy, what does it matter?”

“Um, did you hit your head recently or something?” It’s my turn to ask because honestly, Charlotteisacting really weird.

“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m sticking up for you,” she tells me pointedly.

“Kai Elliot isn’t the kind of man who makes women happy.” Maisie will not be deterred, now that she now has alcohol fueling her words. “Trust me. I’ve seen his handiwork firsthand. He leaves a trail of broken hearts everywhere he goes.”

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