Page 20 of Beautiful Storm

Something wakes me the next morning, and my head pounds as my mind drifts into consciousness. “Ugh,” I groan.What the hell happened last night?

The sound starts up again, and realizing it’s coming from my bedside table, I blindly reach out to make it stop. I’ve just located the source when something orsomeonesmacks me in the face. “Jesus.”

I startle before rolling over at the same time Hayley gasps. “Ouch. Fuck. I’m sorry. Ugh.” She covers her eyes with her hands. “My head.”

“What aboutmyhead?” I ask, rubbing the side of my forehead that just met her palm.

“I thought I was home. Wait, Iamhome. You’re at my place. I was trying to stop the ringing.”

Ringing? That was a phone?

Sure enough, the ringing starts again and we both collectively groan. “Make it stop,” Hayley pleads before burying her head under her pillow, drawing my attention to her bed for the first time.Well there you go. Weareat her place.

When I’m finally thinking clearly, I grab my phone to silence it but freeze when I find Preston’s name.

“Preston’s calling me,” I say softly, a little shocked and a lot confused.

Hayley doesn’t answer, so I whack the pillow until she pops her head out. “What was that for?”

“It’s Preston.”

Her eyes widen before she grabs my phone to check for herself, squinting as she tries to read the screen. “Shit. It is. Why would he be calling?”

That’s what I want to know.“Do you remember any of last night?”

“Of course I do. I wasn’tthatdrunk.”

“Okay, good.” I relax slightly. “I’m guessing I was, because I can’t remember a thing. Did I mention Preston?”

As I ask, I scroll through my phone looking for any calls or messages I may have made but there’s nothing.Thank God.I breathe out a sigh of relief and lie back down. “Did I do anything I shouldn’t have?”

“Not that I can remember, but there’s a couple of hours missing between us dancing and somehow getting back he—”

My phone rings again, cutting off Hayley’s words as we both peer down at the screen.Preston again.

“Jesus, he’s keen as mustard,” Hayley says, the annoyance clear in her expression, her words making me frown.

“He’s what?”

“You know… Excited. Enthusiastic. Eager to speak to you.”

“Thank you and yes, he is. But why?”

“I don’t know, and as much as I’d love to tell him to fuck off, it’s going to annoy you until you find out. You’re better off answering.”

Ugh. I hate that she’s right, but it will drive me crazy if I don’t know.

“Preston?” I answer as Hayley lies down, tucking her hands under the side of her face as she closes her eyes. “What’s up?”

“What’s up? Amelia, I spoke to your mom. You did it! You got your dream role. Congratulations.”Dammit. He’s being nice.

“Thanks, Preston. I’m really excited. Nervous but excited.”

“That’s great. Well, not the nervous part… But you know you’re talented, we all do…and…ah…it’s good. This is good.”

It doesn’t sound good. In a matter of seconds, his tone went from enthusiastic and proud to completely unsure. “Preston, is—”

“Come home. I miss you and—”

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