Page 36 of I'm Not in Love (I Promise)

I grin ear to ear. My birthday is in a week and with Brennan still overseas, I had a feeling I’d be spending it alone. “Oh my God, I’m gonna cry.”

“Not allowed because wait until you hear what else I did.” I make my way back into the living room, clutching my steaming mug. My insides twist with anxiety.

I love Falin like a sister but usually our ideas of fun are wildly different. There was the trip we took to Vegas in college when I lost her for two days. Turns out she was having the time of her life with this couple she met at the casino. Or the time she booked us a dinner reservation and it ended up being at a “clothing optional” restaurant. I had no idea those existed but apparently they do. I’m all about a natural dining experience but something about knowing another person’s wrinkly balls or sweaty butt shared the same chair as me really killed my appetite.

“I’m afraid to ask,” I say, then correct myself so I don’t hurt her feelings. “Because I know how hard it will be to top my twenty-second birthday.”

She’s quiet for a moment before laughing. “Shit, I totally forgot about the clowns.”

“Lucky you,” I say. “Anyway, spill. What did you plan?”

“I got us tickets to this spooky burlesque show! I’ve heard amazing things about it so when I saw them coming to your area I knew we had to go. It’s on your birthday too. I may have DM’ed them and let that info slip.”

I release a breath. A show doesn’t sound too bad. If I can fake a phone call and go blend into the back of the crowd, I may be able to get through it relatively unscathed.

“That sounds so fun. I’m just happy to see you, I can’t wait to squeeze you!”

“Me too,” she says. “I miss you too much, babe. It gets lonely traveling all the time, new cities every month. We need to have a cozy day too. Horror movies, tons of junk food, all the gossip. I miss that the most. But for your big day, we’re going all out.”

“All out?” I ask. “The show is perfect. That’s all I need. And a cozy day sounds amazing, I can’t wait.”

“Well, prepare for some shopping too. There’s a dress code for the venue. I’m thinking slutty vampire brides.” I laugh as she rambles different costume choices. “Fake blood but tastefully applied. Oh, and fangs… Fangs are so hot.”

“What am I going to do with you?” I say as I shake my head.

“Love me forever, of course.”

“You know it.” We chat for a few more minutes about her itinerary and by the time we end the call I’m more joyful than I’ve been in a long time. Falin has a way of blowing into my life like a storm, right when I need her most.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

DAMON

Leon’son the phone asking for an update. “I just left and the place is still vacant,” I tell him.

We got tired of laying low recently so we have adjusted our efforts. Now instead of being trapped in the apartment, he has me watching that club night and day. Whoever that King guy is, he’s not dumb. By the time we decided to venture out to get more intel, they’d completely vacated the space. It’s like every lead we had vanished into thin air.

“Fuck, I almost wish they’d make a move.” I could tell that Leon’s pacing from the other side of the phone. “I hate to say it, but maybe we should get out of here. Florida’s a bust but I might have someone in DC worth looking into.”

My stomach plummets five stories. “Calm down, you’re reading too much into this. I’ll keep an eye on everything as much as I can and maybe we call in some help until Jasper’s healed up. I think Jas still has the number for that investigator his parents hired. Maybe he’s available.”

There’s no way I’m leaving. Not unless Blake’s coming with me.

“That bloke? He was a waste of space, mate. Plus he’s proper by the book from what I remember, completely opposite from how we operate.”

“But anything helps, right? I’m not saying we gotta move him into the apartment and become best friends.” Christ, Leon was going to lose his hair from stress if he didn’t calm the hell down.

“I suppose.” He sighs and I hear the slight change in his tone. “I have to track down his details.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’ll take care of it. You just keep doing your thing.” I pull onto Blake’s street and park around the corner. “I’ll be home late, don’t wait up.”

“Where are you?” I’m about to answer but he sighs. “Nevermind, I already know.” He ends the call without saying goodbye.

“I’m genuinely hurt,” I say into the phone before swiping out of the screen. That guy needs a hobby or a girlfriend… or both. He’s become a massive asshole. I click my app that leads to the camera feed I have of Blake’s bedroom. It’s dark and empty. Tilting my head, I double check her location from the GPS tag I put on her old Honda and the other one I slipped into her backpack. Both have her pinned at home. She must be somewhere else in the house. I’m happy to see my efforts while she’s been busy with classes have become useful.

I zip my black sweatshirt and pull the hood up. It’s not raining as hard as it was earlier, but it’s coming down enough that I’m not thrilled to have to walk in it.

Making my way down the dark street, I imagine what Blake’s doing inside. What she’s wearing. For a second, I almost text her and tell her to strip bare and get on her bed, but that would ruin my plan. Instead, I spend the walk imagining her bent over for me. Slapping her round ass until she has a permanent handprint. Until she’s soaking wet, begging to be fucked. I’m so hard that I need to adjust myself.

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