Page 37 of Ignite

Except Conan is asking if I’m okay.

“He called you trouble. That’s cute. Does he know what else you get up to?”

My eyes go wide.

“No.”

“I bet he’d find it hot. He loved your car, right?”

I nod.

He did. And he made me laugh. Made me feel safe.

Dammit. Why didn’t I text him back?

“It’s not too late to reply. Tell him you were working. You seem giddy about him—don’t ignore your gut.”

I sigh and unlock my phone, staring at the message.

“What do I even say?”

She shrugs and lifts her glass of red.

“Just be you. Sounds like he’s into that.”

Chewing my lip, I type.

Me

Hi, beastie. Sorry, got caught up at work. I’m good, thank you. How are you? And are you looking after your stitches?

I hit send and down the rest of my whiskey, heat rushing to my cheeks as a vivid image flashes back—me spitting whiskey into his mouth. Right here. On this damn kitchen floor.

“Ew. You guys did it here, didn’t you?”

A sly smile pulls at my lips.

“Maybe. Maybe it was right on that chair.” I point at her.

“Ugh. Don’t. I need to get laid, Hallie.”

I laugh and turn my phone screen face down, already itching to flip it back over.

“Ben is single now,” I joke.

“Ew. Absolutely not. I wish Conan had thrown him through the window. Asshole deserved it.”

“Yeah, but it was funny enough without me having to pay for a new window.”

A pit curls low in my stomach.

“I have extra money this month from my extra shifts, I can pay you back.”

Lily places her hand over mine.

“Hallie. Don’t worry about me. I’m good. Just take care of what you have to and pay me back when you can. I’d rather you didn’t nearly kill yourself in that car.”

A shadow flickers across her face.

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