Page 62 of Sunflower Persona
“Do you like to go downtown?”
He nods, but his eyes are still nervous.
“If you let me through those doors, you and your friends can drink for free at Cutter’s until the end of the year.”
“I’m—what?”
“You heard me. All you have to do is let me inside.”
A bead of sweat forms on his forehead as he looks around, and his throat bobs as he swallows back his nerves.
“Are you a cop?”
I don’t justify his stupidity with an answer.
“Shit. Fine. But if anyone asks, I didn’t let you in. My boss would fire me for this without question.”
A loudclicksounds from the door as he hits a button under the desk and the magnetic lock disengages. I give the kid a two-fingered salute and don’t waste any time jogging over to the door. Truth be told, the kid deserves to be fired. It should not be this easy for a strange man to barge his way into the dorms. Part of me wants to report him for his negligence—how dare he putKori at risk—but I would feel like the worst kind of asshole if I cost him his job.
That doesn’t mean I won’t worry about her every time I think of her here alone now.
I pull out my phone and dial Yellow’s number once I get inside. She doesn’t pick up on the first ring. Or the second.
Fuck.
The hope in my chest crumbles, but my resolve only hardens. I’m fixing things with my woman tonight, goddamnit. Karis was right—if I don’t fix this now, I’ll never be able to.
One more call, and if she doesn’t pick up, I’ll wake Karis up to coerce the information out of Evelyn. I’ll wake the whole building up if I have to, but I’m not leaving here until I see my girl. The only thing that will get me out of this building is the words “fuck off” coming from her lips.
I dial one more time, holding my breath as the line rings in my ear. My heart swells as her groggy voice finally comes through on the other end.
“Hello? Gage? Is everything okay?”
“What room are you in?” I rasp.
Chapter 19
Kori
“What room are you in?”
The deep, desperate rasp in Gage’s voice sends a shiver racing down my spine, straight into my core, knocking away my sleepy haze with a lightning bolt of need.
My stupid vagina hasn’t gotten the memo that we are done with him. She really needs to get with the program—we aren’t about to melt into a submissive puddle because he calls sounding all hot and demanding.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I snap.
“What. Room,” he growls.
“Gage. It’s the middle of the night. Can we please not do this now?”
I don’t think I can handle any more of his hot and cold attitude today—hell, I think I’ve had enough of it to last me a lifetime.
“Three seconds, Low, or I’m pulling the fire alarm and bringing you to me.”
There isn’t a hint of teasing in his tone. Not that he’s normally the most expressive, but there is no doubt in my mind he is beingserious right now. He’s willing to risk a misdemeanor to get what he wants, and right now, what he wants is me. I’m not sure if that’s romantic or a red flag. Either way, the threat works.
“I’m in 324, asshole,” I say through clenched teeth.
