Page 22 of Scandalous

“But…” I smile as an idea takes form.

“What are you thinking?” he asks, eyeing me like he knows I’m up to no good.

“What if we did meet her?”

Drake shakes his head. “Ezra hasn’t agreed to invite her yet.”

“Yeah, but what if it wasn’t for one of the parties?” I raise a brow. “What if we ran into her…”

Drake stares at me blankly for a moment. “Are you proposing we just go to New York and hope she’ll meet up with us?”

“What’s the worst thing that could happen?”

“I don’t know, she be creeped the fuck out,” he deadpans.

I wave my hand through the air, running with the idea. “Nah, she wouldn’t. She knows us. We both talk to her enough as it is.”

“This is a horrible idea,” Drake says as he slowly reaches for his phone.

“No, a fucking brilliant one that will let us test the waters. Who knows, maybe we won’t like her once we meet her. Then we can make Ezra’s day and tell him he was right.”

Drake shoots me a disbelieving look.

“You buy the tickets, and I’ll pack our bags,” I say as I jump out of bed with far more energy than I normally do after just waking up.

“What are we going to tell Ezra and Santi?” he asks as I walk toward his closet.

“If we leave soon enough, we won’t have to tell them shit until we’re already there.” I wink over my shoulder.

* * *

“That’s it! I’ll see you guys after break. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” The professor smirks.

Leaning down, I grab my bag and place everything inside. Standing, I head out of the lecture hall.

“Spring break, baby!” Holland yells as she shimmies her hips.

“We’re not going anywhere,” I remind her as she falls into step next to me.

“Yeah, but we get to sleep in every day and not worry about homework.”

“Thank you.” I smile at the guy holding the door open as we exit the building. “This is very true.”

“Did you pick up extra hours like you were wanting?”

“Yeah, Sofia said I could have a couple of extra shifts, but she refused to do it for all of break. And I quote, ‘Rory, all work and no play makes you a very dull girl.’”

Holland throws her head back and laughs. “That woman is awesome.”

I smile but don’t tell her what else Sofia said.

Rory, all work and no play makes you a very dull girl. Go out, dance at one of the clubs. Hell, hook up with some guy! You’re too young to work your life away.

Sofia runs an Italian restaurant named Bello Italiano. I started off bartending at one of her husband’s clubs, but when he realized that really wasn’t my scene and it conflicted with my school schedule, he put me in touch with his wife.

Even after being married for years and having kids, they can’t keep their hands off each other. I can’t wait until I meet someone who looks at me the way Bastiano looks at her.

“Do you work tonight?” she asks as we walk through campus.

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