Then something happens. Light fills me, and a new image forms. This one isn’t a brunette, but a blonde. She’s smiling and laughing as I spin her along my arm and then bring her in close to my body.
Scarlett Priest.
Fuck.
Q’s right. I am in too deep, and now I have to figure out what the fuck to do about it.
One thing is for sure—Chadwick LaSalle won’t get another shot at her.
Not a fucking chance.
Thirty-Four
Scarlett
“Okay, so here’s the deal,” Harlow says, slipping her phone back into her clutch. “We’re going to drink and dance and party our asses off, and then we’re going to make a plan to get Scar what she wants—when we’re sober.”
“We can’t wait that long,” Monroe says with a shake of her head. “We have to strike while the iron is hot. But I agree on the drinking and dancing and partying our asses off.” She points at me. “If he sees you having fun like the gorgeous, amazing girl you are, then he won’t be able to stay away. That’s step one.”
I look from one to the other, and even feeling as tipsy as I am, I recognize that Harlow and Monroe are the voices of authority in this situation. Together, they’ve got a total of around twenty or so years of marriage under their belts, and a hell of a lot more dating experience than I have.
However, I shouldn’t make decisions like this while I’m tipsy, so I just nod. “Let’s have fun. Do what we came here to do, and make sure this club is off the chain by the time we leave.”
Kelsey laughs. “Girl, mission fucking accomplished. Do you see what’s happening out there?”
She waves an arm over the balcony, and I edge closer to see the dance floor. Unlike when we arrived, it’s not just a crowd of thirty or forty people. It’spacked.Like wall to wall, body to body, and the line at the bar is insane.
A sense of pride grows as I watch for a solid minute before I turn around.
“We did it.” I look from Monroe to Kelsey to Harlow. “We actually brought this club back to life ... in just one night.”
Kelsey’s perfectly sculpted brows pinch together. “Why do you sound surprised? Did you doubt for a second you could pull this off? You’reScarlett Priest, honey.”
The way she says my name makes me sound like I’m not a normal woman with two arms, two legs, ten fingers, ten toes, and one asshole ex-boyfriend who showed up trying to start shit. She says my name like the brand that is Scarlett Priest, notme.There is a difference and Kelsey knows it, but other people don’t.
Does Gabriel Legend know there’s a difference?I can’t help but wonder. There’s no answer from the mouthy part of my brain, who has gone strangely silent since we left the dance floor. Maybe the champagne and shots have clouded my thinking.
“Ms. Priest, you didn’t just bring the club back to life, you brought amanback to life.”
We all turn and see Zoe standing just behind us.
“What do you mean?”
Her lips press together, and she looks from side to side before joining our circle. “I shouldn’t have said that. Forgive me. Can I get Astra to bring you another round? Or are you ready to call it a night? I can have our car service see you all home, if so.”
“Hold up,” Monroe says, scooting closer to Zoe. “We need you to elaborate on the‘brought a man back to life’piece that you shouldn’t have said.”
“I can’t. I’m sorry. I misspoke. I don’t want to lose my job.”
I’m ready to apologize to her for prying, but shockingly, Kelsey leans in. “You’re not going to lose your job. You’re like family, aren’t you? I know it when I see it, so don’t try to bullshit me.”
“Kelsey, it’s okay. She doesn’t have to spill. It’s fine. I shouldn’t even be thinking about him ...” I trail off, and Zoe’s attention rivets me.
“You’re into Legend? For real?”
Oh God.My entire body tenses as her questions put me in the spotlight. I just declared to my friends that I want Gabriel, but to someone as close to him as family?
“You saw them, right? On the dance floor?” Monroe asks Zoe.