Page 242 of Blood & Betrayals

“Tequila!” Alice yells as she charges into the living room. She grabs the bottle from my hand and opens it, taking a deep drink. She eyes me suspiciously as she swallows. “You smell weird.”

I blink. “I do?”

Alice moves in closer and inhales deeply. “Yeah, like leather and bourbon.”

I take the bottle from her and take a few thoughtful sips. I tried to scent him when he dropped the avatar, but there was so much going on, and for whatever reason, I couldn’t.

“Stalker?”

I take another drink. “Stranger,” I correct, though I’m not sure why.

Alice snorts. “Stranger, then.”

I nod.

“You made up?”

I nod again and hand the bottle to Alice.

“How was it?” She asks before taking another swig.

“It was good. We nerded out over an old book.”

Alice rolls her eyes. “Of course you did.” She holds the bottle up. “To another semester.”

I take the bottle and hold it up before taking another drink. Alice cranks the music up, and we pass the tequila back and forth as we dance. The warm brown liquid quickly diminishes, and when it’s finished, we collapse on the couch, the room spinning pleasantly.

“What does he look like? Your stranger,” Alice asks.

The thought of him warms my insides more than the tequila.

“He’s big. Muscular.”

Alice looks at me. “Bigger than Connor?”

I nod, thinking about how he dwarfs my body with his.

Alice slides off the couch and stands up, stumbling a little. “Okay, tell me when to stop.” She raises her hand over her head, and when she can’t reach any higher, she stands on the couch. When her arm is fully extended, I get up and stand next to her, holding my hand higher than hers.

“You’re fucking kidding?”

I shake my head. “He’s about 6’8”, and all muscle.”

“That’s gigantic,” Alice says, dropping back onto the couch.

I nod. “And honestly, if his face matches his body, he’s hot as fuck,” I say, immediately regretting the words. Is that okay for me to think? Am I allowed to think other guys are attractive? Would I be okay with Connor being attracted to other girls? I think so. I trust him, and I know he’d never cheat.

“What do you mean if?” Alice asks.

“You know I don’t know what he looks like. I don’t know who he is.”

“Oh, yeah. The glamour.” Alice thinks for a moment. “Why?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. He’s a mystery.”

“Maybe he’s famous.”

“All I know is that he’s huge, smart, and powerful.”

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