Page 62 of Rewrite the Rules

“Thanks for offering to take me out somewhere nice. That was surprisingly sweet.”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

She sucks in a breath like she’s about to respond. But instead, the line is silent for a moment. “See you tonight.” The three beeps in my ear tell me our connection is lost.

In perfect timing too, because Felices hops on the bed and balls up his furry fist again. “Fine. Go get your leash.” I’m not sure if he understands me but he scurries out of the bedroom. I fish my phone back out of my pocket.

Me:Can we make a pact?

Adler:Good grief. You again?

Me:Adler.

Adler:What pact? Is it to follow Spice Girls around the U.S. if they ever have a reunion tour?

Me:No.

Me:Hell no.

Adler:Suit yourself. But fine, what pact?

Me:Let’s promise to stay friends. If hooking up ever gets too complicated, we stop. We just go back to this.

Adler:Okay. Deal.

Me:Good.

Adler:Friends go with friends to Spice Girl reunion concerts though. Just putting that out there.

Fuck no.The sex would have to be really good to convince me to do that.Like really good.

twenty-two

Adler

I’m out of place at the Four Seasons. This level of luxury is not one I’m accustomed to. The decor is immaculate. The cream-swirled marble tiles on the floor look like they were painted by hand. The grandiose crystal chandeliers hanging above my head glow perfectly, putting the stars in the sky to shame. The Venetian light fixtures that are precisely spaced along the wall look like they came from the Vatican itself. Everything is so romantic and beautiful. But holy crap that’s a lot of money spent on stuff you walk on and glance at.

I exit the private elevators and make my way to the only door at the end of the hallway. Yeesh.Penthouse.Of course, it’s the penthouse.

The front door to Joel’s home swings open before I can knock. My fist hangs aimlessly in the air.

“Addie-cakes!” Cody pulls me into a big bear hug, lifting me off the ground and testing the strength of my spine. Over his shoulder an enormous grand piano is in plain view. Not a baby grand. An actual grand. Because this place is large enough to accommodate one. In fact, even from the entry view, Joel’s penthouse looks large enough to accommodate an army of grand pianos…comfortably.

“Cody, you live here now, right?”

“Yep. Sure do.”

“Just with Joel?”

“Yep.”

“And Scrooge McDuck?”

“It’s a little over the top, right? Joel normally has simple taste but he said this was the selling point that got him.” Cody drags me to the bottom of a solid spiral staircase with curved glass barriers. It’s the most sophisticated piece of architecture I’ve ever seen. The stairs are literally art. Cody positions me at the bottom of the spiral and points up, guiding my gaze through the middle of the circular space that the stairs encompass.

“Wow.” I’m completely in awe. From the very top of the ceiling, dripping lights cascade down on invisible wires. “These look like falling stars. Like magic.”

“Exactly. Especially at night.”

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