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Me:

I’m actually being held hostage on the couch by my cousin and a random man making out…

Dalton:

Wait, what?

Dalton:

I’m aware being a hostage usually means you are unwilling, but my brain can’t manage to figure out how you got into this situation. Can’t you like…move rooms?

A picture of how his brows were probably furrowed in confusion popped into my mind, causing me to grin like an idiot.

Me:

Studio apartment. Nowhere to go unless I hide in the bathroom, but I already experienced another of her hook-ups walking in on me while I was in the shower.

Why was I sharing all of this with him?

Dalton:

Get dressed. I’m coming to pick you up.

Dalton:

Don’t bother arguing. I’m already on my way.

My bottom lip was back between my teeth, a maelstrom of giddiness overtaking my body. Normally, he’d be right, and I would argue, but I really wanted him to come to get me—and not only to escape the weird sexcapade happening on my cousin’s bed.

But I needed to at least pretend to play hard to get.

Me:

You don’t even know which apartment I live in…

His response showed up almost instantly, as if he’d already prepared it and was ready for when I pushed back.

Dalton:

Don’t try me, Ariella. I will knock on every damn door in that building until I find you and carry you out over my shoulder.

Never in my life had I experienced the urge to squeal and kick my feet until that moment.

Knock on every door? Carry me out over his shoulder?

I popped up from under the floral flat sheet, shielding my eyes and scrambling to find a matching pair of tennis shoes.

Shit. My hair.

Gracie called out after me, but I was too busy running to the bathroom to throw on mascara and deodorant. I had to put that shit on everywhere with the heat in Dallas.

“Where the hell are you off to?” she asked, standing in the doorway. I smirked at her bob, which had obviously had a hand running through it—and not her own. “You know you don’t have to leave.”

Through the vanity mirror, I could see that while her words said one thing, her face said another.

“It’s no problem. You have your sexy time or whatever you two are doing.” Our eyes met in the reflection. “Dalton’s picking me up.”

Gracie lit up with excitement, and she literally jumped up and down for joy at the news.