Page 7 of Beautiful Beast

He looks… Friendly. Fun. Easygoing.

The exact opposite of the dude I just met.

“So, the tea is that his family is super-rich, but he’s the black sheep. He never took over the family business when his dad died, and it seems he joined the armed forces instead,” Ariel explains.

I guess we have being outcasts in common.

“But, apparently, he was discharged several years ago and no one has any idea what he’s been doing since he got out,” she continues. “Speculation is that he was bumming around on a yacht or something.”

“Howthe helldo you know all this information about a total stranger?” I demand.

“Forbes… And Facebook. Did you know his apartment is worth like a hundred million dollars?”

“How would I know that? People don’t just know stuff like that about each other. You should consider a career change and become a spy.”

“It is a good backup if Broadway doesn’t work out.”

We make plans to meet up for coffee at a Starbucks near my old building. We need to caffeinate before taking on the task of getting all my stuff out before the deadline.

Luckily, the lawyer who sent me the letter from my grandmother was able to meet with me on short notice because without this apartment, I would have been couch surfing at my friends’ places after getting evicted from mine.

I stay seated on the couch for a few more minutes, petting Buster while he snores. The smooth patch of skin on his side where he’s missing fur still gives me pause and makes my heart ache every time I see or touch it.

He’s been through so much and supported me through a whole lot of pain. We’re so connected, and he’s so much more than just a dog to me – we’re kindred spirits.

I lean down to kiss his big head, and he snorts in return like only a boxer can.

“I love you, buddy. I won’t be gone for very long. Ariel is coming over.” His ears perk up, and he glances toward the door. “Not yet,” I explain. “Soon.”

Boxer puppies are usually bundles of crazy energy, but Buster loves to cuddle and sleep. He has bursts of excitement, but overall, he’s a very chill dog and in tune with me and my introverted ways.

He’s my heart dog.

The best part about my grandmother’s place is the huge balcony with a small patch of green grass. I didn’t have any outdoor space at my old apartment, so this is a huge upgrade. Letting Buster outside when he wakes up at five every morning like clockwork just got a whole lot easier.

As I make my way to the coffee shop, I keep my eyes peeled for Adam. If he just got home from a trip – and the gigantic duffel bag suggests he did – then maybe he’ll be going to get the mail or something.

Do rich people get their own mail, or does someone hand deliver it? Maybe someone even opens it and deals with the details for them.

I have no idea how any of this works, and I definitely do not belong on Madison Avenue. But I won’t be here for long. It’s just a stopover while I get my life back on track.

The eviction wasn’t my fault – exactly – and it’s just one event in the series of mishaps dominating my recent life. I’m more than ready for a change of pace.

It’s easy to spot Ariel’s bright red hair outside Starbucks. Her face is buried in her phone, which isn’t unusual as she’s always keeping up with auditions and the latest gossip and trends on social media.

But when she notices my approach, she drops the device into her purse and hugs me along with her full attention.

“How are you so pretty?” she complains. “You’d think I would be used to your face by now, but it’s always a sucker punch. I can only imagine how rocked guys get. It’s you who should be on Broadway, but you’re too busy hiding out at the library.”

My stomach flip-flops in the same way it always does when someone mentions how I look. I can’t explain it without sounding like a total head case, so I always just smile and nod when I’m told how beautiful I am.

“I happen to love the library,” I return, focusing on the only part of her sentence that makes me happy.

“Speaking of love,” Ariel says as we get into line. “Adam.” She wiggles her eyebrows, and I can’t help but laugh. “I hope we see him when we get back to your new place. I’m going to ask him about the military.”

“Oh, my God,” I exclaim. “You arenot. Don’t you realize how crazy that makes you sound to even know those details about him?”

Ariel looks at me like I’m the one who is nuts. “It’s information in the public domain. His family is kind of a big deal. They’re like… Super rich. Powerful. They basically own New York City. Plus, he’s this sexy bad boy guy who I bet looks insanely good in a suit. And naked.”

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