Page 115 of Meet Me In The Dark

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Madison finally shrugs. “Think he passed?”

“Yeah,” Emmy says, just as casually.

I blink once before a laugh breaks out of me, more disbelief than humor. “Jesus Christ. You were testing me?”

Madison meets my stare. “She’s our best friend. She’s going to kill us for telling you. We needed to make sure you were worth it.”

A muscle ticks hard in my jaw.

I’m one second from walking out to track Celeste down myself when Emmy’s expression softens and she rests a hand on my arm. “She’s at Cedars-Sinai.”

“Thank you.” A breath of relief whooshes out of me, but it’s not enough. I need to see her.

I’m at the door when Emmy calls, “Julian?”

I turn but keep my grip tight on the handle.

“Be careful with her,” she says, all softness now. “She acts tough, but she bruises easily.”

My throat pulls tight, but I nod once before I’m gone.

Thirty-Six

Celeste

The ceiling tiles are dancing again.

That’s how I know the good stuff has kicked in. Either that or I’ve finally ascended. My uterus is somewhere in hell, but the rest of me is floating peacefully toward whatever comes after. Probably brunch.

I shift against the pillows, relishing the faint hum in my limbs. Everything is just a little fuzzy, a little floaty, and I don’t hate it.

My eyes squint as a shadow moves across the door.

That’s a very tall hallucination. It’s wearing a suit and walking like it’s ready to strangle me.

“God, not now,” I whisper to no one.

Where’s my alarm? Someone’s going to kill me.

Hold on. Where the hell are my arms?

Oh, there they are.

I giggle and blink again.

The hallucination doesn’t fade.

It gets closer and angrier.

And also… hotter.

Oh no.

No, no, no.

“No,” I groan, dragging the heels of my hands over my eyes and throwing my head back against the pillow.

“Don’t ‘no’ me, Celeste Eleanor Morgan.”

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