Page 66 of Exposé

Did he just accuse me of being an addict?

I picked my jaw up off the floor and chased after him.

"You've got some nerve."

Nate scowled, his chiseled jaw clenching. "I do?"

I pressed my finger into his chest. "Not only did you cost me a lead, but then you accuse me of doing drugs?"

He towered over me, his white shirt glowing under the lights, his leather jacket tight against his shoulders. "So are you saying Imade believeyou were popping pills?"

I hung my head and shook it with a short exhale. "I wasn't going to swallow it. I was going to cheek it and run off."

He raised a brow. "Right."

"Look, you don't have to believe me, but I'm telling the truth." My hand slid down his shirt. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

His breath made my lashes flutter as he moved closer. "I'm a friend of the DJ."

I let out a sharp breath, arms tightening over my chest like a makeshift shield. "So you're more of a rave junkie than I am."

Nate glanced around us as he stepped in closer. "This is the first time I've been to one of his parties. It's not my style."

"I guess we have something else in common."

He gave a subtle shake of his head, his hand tucking into his pocket.

"I need that pill back."

"Why?"

"I want to run some tests on it."

"What for?"

"Nate, Goddammit, this isn't any of your business." I bit into my lip, avoiding eye contact as my fingers itched to tug at my hair. My heel bobbed against the ground as my stomach pinched. "But if you must know, it's for the story I'm working on."

"A story? What kind of story?"

"Look." I shook my head. "Can you give it back, please? It's not like I'm gonna hide in the bathroom and do lines."Are thereeven bathrooms here?"Besides, I don't want to be here just as much as you." My gaze roamed up his dark pants to his belt buckle, then charged straight to his examining eyes. I held out my open palm between us. "So, as soon as you hand it back, I'm going home."

Nate sighed and dug his hand into his pocket. "I can't believe I'm doing this." He slapped the pill into my hand, and I dropped it into my bra.

"Pleasure doing business with you."

"Really?" He cocked a brow.

"Too soon?" I pulled my lip between my teeth, hiding the rising smirk.

Aria popped in beside me, her cheeks flushed as she held out her phone. "I've been on the phone this entire time with that big baby—" She dropped her phone to her side as her gaze fell on Nate. "Oh,umm..." She tucked her hair behind her ear. "I see you're busy here." She leaned into me, her hand gripping my forearm. "Did you get it?"

I nodded.

"I didn't know drug dealers were so good-looking."

An obnoxious snort filled the space between us as I laughed. "This is my... friend Nate. He's not a drug dealer."

Was he still my friend?

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