Chapter 1 – Blair
“Oh, come on!” Scarlett groaned, her hazel-gold eyes narrowing to accentuate the frown perched on her heart-shaped face. “I don’t have time for this,” she mumbled under her breath, struggling to drag her suitcase across the hall.
“Keep pulling like that, and that thing’s gonna sue you for assault,” I said, leaning against the door frame with my arms across my chest.
She paused, her brows furrowing at my response. “Would it kill you to lift a finger and help me out?” she huffed, tugging even harder.
“You’re abandoning me. Why would I do that?” I teased, a small smile playing on my lips.
“Okay, now you’re just being melodramatic—I’m only leaving for a few weeks,” she said, straightening her spine and keeping her eyes on me.
“Four weeks to be exact,” I answered, “that’s a whole month, Lettie—a whole freaking month!”
Her brows arched almost in disbelief, a bright grin spreading across her face. “Oh, my God, do you miss me already?”
I pushed my head back, blowing a raspberry to mask my emotions. “Yeah, you wish.”
Scarlett laughed and added in song form,“Denial.”
“That’s not true.” I wore a plastic frown. “I just hate the fact that I’m stuck here with our leaky sink while you’re having fun in the sunshine and sipping overpriced cocktails for a whole month.”
“Hmm.” She crossed her arms, tapping her finger on her jaw as if she was thinking. “That’s weird. I thought you hated funand only cared about chasing truth like an addiction—even if it’s nearly gotten you killed so many times.”
I pushed off the door frame, lips twisting into a faint smirk. “Are you kidding? That’smyidea of fun.”
She heaved a soft sigh. “You, Blair Blake, are one of the weirdest people I’ve ever met.” She grabbed her suitcase and resumed dragging it across the hall.
“Thank you.”
“It wasn’t a compliment.”
I laughed, following up behind her with a radiant smile on my face.
Scarlett Carter was my roommate and my best friend. She was the definition of beauty with brains—quiet, observant, and underestimated by almost everyone. That alone made her more dangerous than people realized.
She favored soft dresses and cardigans, like the one she had on tonight—a cream-colored silk gown and a brown cardigan that draped elegantly over her petite frame.
Her blonde hair was cut blunt just past her shoulders, and her hazel eyes stood out, their colors shifting between gold and green, depending on the light.
Scarlett groaned as she struggled with the suitcase like she was wrestling a grizzly bear. It was fun to watch, especially because I loved getting under her skin.
“Clearly, heavy lifting isn’t your forte,” I teased, catching up with her.
She shot a glare at me, her lips pursed to suppress the faint grin twitching at the corners of her mouth. “If you’re just gonna gloat, you might as well just get back inside.”
“And miss out on all the fun? I don’t think so.”
She chuckled. “I hate you so much.”
“I know.” My arms wrapped around her from the back, but before she could savor the moment, I grabbed the handlefrom her. “Move over before you give the poor suitcase a complex. It’s embarrassed enough being seen with you.”
“Ha-ha. Very funny,” she deadpanned, letting out a sarcastic laugh, dry and witty.
I blew her a kiss and dragged the suitcase effortlessly down the hall. “See? That’s how it’s done.”
“Show off,” she murmured under her breath.
I wrapped my free hand around her neck, our laughs echoing off the walls. We stepped outside under the moon’s ethereal glow, the cool night air grazing our skin like a soft whisper.
