Page 158 of Magic or Madness

“I have to get ready for the meeting, are we okay?” He asks, brushing stray hairs behind my ear.

“We’re okay, baby.” I kiss his cheek, and he tackles us flat onto the bed, tickling the spot on my ribcage that drives me crazy.

“Oh, and no drinking on the roof without my supervision,” he commands, a playful smile on his face.

I knew it.

My big softie leaves the room, and I’m left in my thoughts, attempting to remember everything I can about the man who calls himselfMr. A.

I grab my notebook, jotting down notes to add to a poster board later on. No stone will be left unturned, and luckily, I was the most alert when I first woke up. I write everything I canremember, every detail down to the expensive shoes and suit when a knock at the door nearly gives me a heart attack.

“Come in!”

Cami and Pepper come sauntering in, a pitcher of mimosas in hand, and they crash land on my bed, handing me a glass.

“If we’re trapped here, we’re day-drinking,” Cami cheers, pouring more than enough in my glass.

“Is this aCami mimosa, or a regular one?” I tease, and she smirks, biting her lip slightly.

“A regular one. Miss Pepper would be on her ass if she had aCami mimosa,” she quips, and poor Pepper has no idea what we’re talking about.

“I love that you two are like … a thing, but can I ask why? Or maybe, how? I just never had an attraction to another girl before.” She digs into us, but it’s innocent in a way that only Pepper could achieve, and Cami and I exchange a look before we decide to tell her.

“I can’t speak for Fallon, but I was downbad as fuckfor her the second we met at the club. She snatched my hand away from Ozzy so fast that I wasn’t sure if I wanted to kiss her, or be her, but I was obsessed,” she recalls, and I can’t help the smile plastered on my face.

“It started in Jacksonville. We didn’t kiss for the first time until the sex club night,” I add, and Cami smirks at me, both of us flooded with memories.

“Well, don't hold back on my account,” Pepper jokes, the mimosa already making her giggle.

It’s nice, being able to be ourselves around Pepper now. We aren’t under the radar anymore, both of us deciding to come out at the right moment, and it feels really good.

“Really though, are you alright, Fal? I was so fucking worried about you.” Cami asks what’s been on everyone’s mind, and Irest my head on her lap, closing my eyes as the comfort of her touch warms every part of me.

“I’m good, better now that I’ve had a good night's sleep,” I say as Cami strokes my hair in the softest, most intimate way.

“Sleep … right.” Cami laughs sarcastically, and reminders of last night come back in waves, the desperation of both Ozzy and I swirling around my mind.

“This place is like an echo chamber. It sounded so hot, though. You were a machine,” Pepper adds, and I bury my face in the blanket.

“You’d think I’d be used to it by now.” I shake my head, feeling the embarrassment flood my cheeks, surely turning them various shades of pink.

“Wait. This has been bothering me for a while, but you can’t say anything because I’m kinda scared,” Pepper starts, a confession at the tip of her tongue, and my eyes widen, terrified of what she could possibly be so worried about.

“What is it, Pep?”

Cami takes the liberty of refilling all our glasses, and we wait with bated breath on what Pepper has to share.

“The night of your birthday I left our room to find Alexander a snack, he’s always hungry after we finish.” She smirks, and I snap my fingers, keeping her mind fully present.

“Focus,Pepperoni,” I tease, and she turns bright red.

“Okay, okay. Well, outside your room, Journey was listening, and I asked him if you two had given permission. He yelled at me, and dragged me into a secluded hallway, leaving bruises on my arm.”

“He touched you?” I all but scream, the rage building up like red-hot flames, and she nods slowly, her eyes filling with tears.

“Yes, he was so angry. He threatened to turn you all against me and said he hadconnectionsto people who could hurt me. I told Alexander, and he promised to handle it from there. But,I just knew you guys wanted privacy, so I didn’t want him near your door,” Pepper cries, and we both hold her tightly.

“Is that what all the fighting was about between them?” I ask, and she nods slowly, wiping her tears.

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