Fae: Are you awake?
Fae: Are you awake now?
Fae: How are you possibly still asleep? If you don’t text back, I’m coming over.
Lux: I’m here. Relax.
Fae: Well, I was worried. You didn’t text me after your super secret mission.
Lux: Long story — will explain in person.
Fae: Perfect! Come downstairs.
Lux: What?
Fae: I’m here. Come to the parking garage — black limo waiting by the elevator.
Lux: What on earth are you doing here?
Fae: Just come down and I’ll explain everything. Don’t bring your boy toy.
Lux: I’m getting the feeling I’m not going to like whatever you have to say…
Fae: COME DOWN.
Lux: What if this isn’t even Fae? What if it’s someone who stole Fae’s phone and is trying to kidnap me?
Fae: You have watched way too many Lifetime murder mysteries. It’s me.
Lux: Prove it.
Fae: Fine. Your deepest regret — last summer you were eating a pint of Ben & Jerry’s as you walked down 42nd. You dropped your spoon on the dirty sidewalk. Rather than let your ice cream melt, you wiped off the spoon on your t-shirt, stuck it back in your mouth, and proceeded to eat the entire pint.
Lux: I’ll be down in a second.
***
I trippedmore than once on the too-large sweatpants I’d borrowed from Bash’s closet, but eventually I made it downstairs to the parking garage. Stepping out of the elevator, I spotted the limo immediately — as well as my best friend, who was leaning against it with an amused smile on her face, totally unbothered by the fact that it was three in the morning. She was dressed in all black again — her designer version of “stealth attire” — and exuding a poised, confident air. Or, at least, she was until she caught sight of me in Bash’s clothes.
“Ohmigod!” Her smile was so wide and bright I feared it might blind me. “You totally got some.”
“Shut up,” I grumbled coming to a stop next to her.
“I need details. Like, very explicit, graphic, step-by-step details of everything that happened since I last saw you.” She grinned. “Simon is gonna flip! He owes me twenty bucks.”
“You twobeton whether or not I’d have sex with Bash tonight?”
She nodded. “Simon thought you’d hold out till after Centennial, but my money was on tonight!”
“That is beyond disturbing. You do realize that, right?”
“Yeah, I know.” She shrugged, still grinning. “But I’m pretty sure you should be eternally indebted to me, since I was the one who found thatbustier and garter set on sale.” She arched an eyebrow at me as a scarlet blush stole across my cheeks. “Oh yeah, you totally owe me, you little slut.”
“Was this the reason you dragged me out of bed and away from the best sex of my life at three in the morning?” I asked.
“No, it’s not the reason,” Fae said, sighing.
“Then what is it?”