“OMG, where the fuck have you been?”
Blinking at the vehement greeting, she cleared her throat.“Huh?”
“Which part of my question didn’t you understand?Dammit, El, you’ve just dropped off the Earth, and you haven’t been answering texts or anything!”
She grimaced.“Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be sorry, just don’t do it again.All I know is you were telling me about this awesome first date, then you disappear?I was thinking all kinds of crazy shit.”
“He doesn’t have me locked in the cellar if that’s what you’re thinking,” El returned, smiling a little at the huff that came down the line.
“Well, that’s a relief,” came the snarky retort.“You’re not at home.I popped around last night.Where the fuck are you?”
“With him still,” she confessed.
“Oh.My.God.Did you finally get laid?”
She scrunched her eyes shut.Why had she willingly called Persia?“Maybe,” she said, not willing to lie but not wanting to admit the truth either.Why else would she still be with her date at his house if they hadn’t been fucking like rabbits?
A squeal came down the line.“You have to tell me everything.”
Everything was a long shot, but she had to give it a go, didn’t she?
Five minutes later, having divulged a ton about Ryan, but having kept quiet about everything else, she did feel better.
“He sounds like such a dreamboat.And a powerful one at that too!Feral is such a hot restaurant right now.”
“Tell me about it,” she said softly.
“You’re probably having to share him with the business, am I right?Is that why you’re still there?Are you love birds finding it hard to be apart?”
Only Persia could make thatnotsound corny as fuck.“You’re such a romantic,” El teased with a little chuckle.
She pshawed.“You’re the exact opposite.”
“Maybe.”
Persia let out a small grunt.“Bull.A lot.That’s why you’re calling, right?”
“Huh?”
“You want me to talk you out or into this guy you’re with?”
She blinked.Was that why she’d called?Or was it because she felt like she was losing her mind over all this insanity and just needed to talk to someone who wasn’t Marc?
El had slept away the majority of the past two days.Shock?Fatigue?
She bit her lip.
Or was it because she felt safe enough to rest here?To finally let down her guard?
The notion was an astonishing one.
“No.I just wanted to check in with you,” she said softly.“I’m going back to bed now.Sorry if I woke you.”
Persia snorted.“You know me.I’m a night owl.”
“Still.It’s what?”She peered at her phone.“Nearly one AM?”
