Page 24 of Devilry

“Your dependency on me is comical, big brother. Somewhat cheesy, but extremely satisfying.”

“Can you just stop with the gloating and check them out, please?”

A loud beep comes through the phone, followed by the sound of her personal assistant’s voice advising her she has a phone conference in ten minutes. She sighs. “I’ve got to take this call if I ever want to get out of here at a decent hour. Not all of us are lucky enough to finish at three.”

“It’s five o’clock,” I retort, unfazed by the dig. “Just let me know what you think before tomorrow night, okay?”

“Love you, Cole.”

“Love you too.”

Looking at the time, I tell myself another half an hour here would be time well spent, then I’ll go home and get ready before meeting Harper.

An email alert pulls me out of my reading. Meghann has sent her reply with the heading ‘For the right price this is the one.’ I laugh at her choice, because just as I predicted, it was mine too. Fingers crossed it looks just as good in real life.

Unable to get back into the zone with my reading, I pack what I need into my leather laptop bag and head home.

After a quick shower, I opt for comfort, throwing on a pair of dark blue jeans with a white, short-sleeved button-down shirt and brown leather boots. Dressed casually and less restrictively, it’s the perfect combination, because it’s the exact way I want to feel tonight. Shoving my phone and wallet in my pockets, I’m ready to go.

Knocking on the hollow door, I wait for the familiar face to appear.

“I’m coming,” Harper calls out. The door opens and she appears in black jeans and a loose, black blouse, with a towel twisted on top of her head holding her wet hair up. “You’re early.”

“Well, hello to you, too, Beauty.” I look down at my watch and follow the seconds as they tick by until the digital numbers flip over to seven o’clock. “I’m right on time now. Are you ready?”

She huffs at me in irritation. “I just need to dry my hair. Come inside and wait for me?”

“I don’t mind hanging here.”

“Don’t be the creeper at the door, Cole. Just come inside and sit on the couch.”

With no room left for argument, I step into her apartment and awkwardly stand in the middle of the space, waiting for her to finish up.

Just like me, Harper was offered housing to get her to move here quicker. Where I am messy, laid back, and in no rush to settle in, a quick scan shows none of that is a problem for her. Clean and clutter free, the layout of her place is the only thing our apartments have in common.

Five minutes later, she steps out, her hair now somewhat dry and flowing in long, loose curls that frame her face. “So, what is it you want to do? Eat? Drink? Dance?”

“How about all three?” I answer honestly.

“It’s like that is it?”

I raise an eyebrow at her. “Like what?”

“Nothing.”

Not wanting to take the bait, I give her a noncommittal shrug. “You ready to go?”

“Yep.” She throws a light jacket over her forearm and gestures to the door. Walking out first, I turn to face her in the corridor. “Do you have any ideas on where we could go?”

“What kind of guy asks someone out with no idea where to go?” She rolls her eyes at me. “Lucky for you, I never move somewhere without finding out everything I need to know about my surroundings.” Locking her door, she shoves her keys into her black clutch and we head to the elevator. “If you trust me, I’ve got your dinner, drinking, and dancing sorted.”

“I trust you.”

* * *

Stomachs full,Harper and I now sit opposite one another sipping on our drinks and discussing what life is like at King.

“You can’t be serious?” she asks, mouth hanging open. “A history nerd like you hasn’t been to The National Archives? You didn’t want to reliveNational Treasureand reminisce about Nicolas Cage?”

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