Page 32 of Before Now

Not talking. I’m seducing. And why would I stop when you’re naked for me?

Putting my phone face down on the ledge, I slide all the way into the water. I have to before I text my way into Foster’s metaphorical bed. He’s infected me. Ever since last week and the leaves and the two inches of skin, he’s spread through my system like a fever, consuming my thoughts and smoldering in my veins. Every word from him, every pause and sigh intensify the heat.

He’s scorching me from the inside out, and I can’t cool down. I can’tslowdown. I can’t use my head when it comes to Foster, and my other parts can’t be trusted.

The bathroom door bangs open, and I jump up, sending the water sloshing around in the tub as I surface.

Ebony hair and an annoyed bestie face rush in.

“Boundaries,” I tell Sage.

But it hardly slows her down.

She rolls her eyes so dramatically her head goes with them. Then she shuts herself in the bathroom with me.

“Please. I’ve seen you through all the cup sizes.” She drops onto the rug, back against the porcelain. “Plus, you can see my tits anytime. What’s mine is yours.”

I laugh and flick water at her profile. “My tits are not your tits.”

She hangs her head back to see me, her long black hair falling onto the tub’s ledge. “Selfish, bitch. Be more of an only child, I dare you.”

The world would be dark without Sage Teller lighting it on fire. She’s fierce, albeit slightly unhinged, and no matter how far I might slip inside myself, she’s either there to drag me out or waiting for me to find the way on my own.

“Is this ayou missed mevisit, or are we shooting someone up?” I ask.

She twists around and folds her arms on the tub. “I missed you. I always miss you ever since you fucking left me, but I amdealing.” She sets her chin on her arm. “And maybe Miles didn’t answer my text earlier, and I’m contemplating flying to California, and I need a talk down.”

I push her hair away from her face. “There it is.”

She wrinkles her nose at me. I grab my phone and find my texts with Miles, then I hand it to her after calling his number. Sage greedily grabs for it and turns on the speaker. The first call goes unanswered, so we go for a second. She’s glaring at me because I’m the reason Miles isn’t answering when he answers.

“Rem, is Sage okay?” he asks. As his greeting.

“She’s perfect. The most calm and collected woman alive, like always.” I give her a dry smile, right as he says, “I told you about my meeting, gorgeous. The one I just ran out of because Remi would never call me twice in a row without an emergency.”

She bites her lips together, innocently looking at the ceiling. “I might have forgotten,” she says.

I nudge her face away until she rotates fully. I get out as she moves to perch on the counter by the sink, tossing me a towel on her way, and I wrap in it before grabbing another.

“Are you mad at me?” she asks, pouting at me since he’s not here.

I pout back in solidarity, toweling my hair.

Miles lets out a sigh that turns into a groan. “Nah. It was fucking boring in there. Give me five minutes to grab my shit, and then I want to listen to you come while I drive.”

“Nope.” I pluck the phone out of her hand. “Sage will call you in twenty from the comfort of her own room on her own phone.”

She pretends not to hear me, checking her nails, but he chuckles.

“You good, Rem?” he asks. “Please spare me theit’s greatbullshit if it’s all just shit.”

Sage flits her eyes up to me, and I quickly force a smile at my best friend and tell her boyfriend, “No, it really is great bullshit.”

“Everything still good withWanderer? No more video issues? You’ve taken a few less tours lately. If you tell me it’s because the app sucks, I will never forgive you.”

“No, Miles.Wandereris amazing. The tours are…” I grab for the doorknob, my mouth turning up on its own this time. “One of my favorite parts of the day. I’ve just been distracted with senior year and my escape plan.”

And other things.

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