Page 23

“He invited me over to his home tonight to see if hot fudge would have the same effects as the Jojoba oil,” I said. And then I waited.

I could see him working it through his mind, and I knew it wouldn’t take long, and I was right.

His face twisted in a grimace.

And at that grimace, Everly and I started laughing again.

He shook his head, “That’s just fucking disgusting.”

Everly smiled, “Well, I mean, if it was with someone hot, I wouldn’t mind it.”

I grinned, “Neither would I. Reverse the roles...” I said.

Her eyes smiled as a blinding smile hit her face, too. “You’re totally right.”

Carter had just opened his mouth to say something when Everly said, “Damn, but I need to get laid.”

Carter closed his mouth with an audible snap.

“So, what brings you by?” I asked.

“Need a favor,” he said.

I nodded, “Okay, shoot.”

With his eyes locked with mine, he said, “Having a rewards banquet at the headquarters office in two weeks. Wanted to know if you would go with me. Hate attending that shit alone.”

I thought about it, “What date?”

“April twenty-eighth.”

I nodded, then pulled out my phone and called my mom.

She answered on the third ring, “Hey, Belly belle. What’s up?”

“Do y’all have coverage on the twenty-eighth?” I asked.

I was surprised when she didn’t have to check the calendar, “We do. Apparently, Alec did something to upset you, so he offered to help on the weekends for a month.”

I snickered. I was still doing my own payback. That little weasel.

***

It was two weeks later, and I was getting ready.

Since I’d never been to any type of banquet, I had been unsure of what to wear.

That had been where my girls had come through.

Our text thread went like this.

Badass Chick Thread

Me – Carter asked me to attend a rewards banquet with him on the 28th. What do I wear?

Talia – One night we will go shopping.

Talia – Love my brother, but those things are kind of boring.