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“I could sleep on Stella’s couch, which is also not super ideal. Ria only has her university dorm and I don’t think she would want me invading her space anyway. Let me stay at home at least a couple nights before we start any planning.”
Allie pouted. “Okay, but I’ll tap the entire network if I need to so we can get you a place to stay that you feel comfy in. Do you think you might sell your place and move into a different building?”
“I would have to check out the security at other places.” I shrugged. “It’s not out of the question.”
I lapsed into silence to encourage them onto another conversation topic, focusing on cleaning my plate so I could indulge myself in the chocolate mint cupcakes Luca had brought for dessert from one of his practice sessions.
We took the desserts and decaf coffee into the living room, snuggling down into the couch and the oversized chairs. Luca gave me the fluffy blanket off the back of his chair and I tucked myself into a little burrito. I was hilariously bad at the trivia game Allie insisted we play, while Luca’s breadth of knowledge was a little bit impressive.
“Is it bad I’m kind of glad Nicky’s not here tonight so I have some semblance of a chance of winning?” Luca asked.
“Not bad,” Sidney replied. “Nick’s ruthless with games. Sometimes you need a more chill experience with it.”
The more the evening hours dwindled down, the more I had to psych myself up for a night at the club. Exhaustion clung to my ankles like a kid who didn’t want their parent to leave. I couldn’t afford to be that tired on the hoop. At least my part in tonight’s lineup was small so I only had to make it through two performances that would be spaced out through the night.
My phone alarm went off while I was mid-doze and scared the shit out of me. It’s scattered a few cobwebs that had taken over my brain, and I silenced it, reluctantly pulling myself out of the blankets. “I have to get going, but tonight was lovely. I’ll get everything transferred over tomorrow.”
“Take your time,” Sidney said. “The space is yours as long as you need it, so don’t feel like you have to rush out of here.”
“I can come by and help if you want,” Luca offered.
I jumped on the invitation, knowing it was the only opportunity I would get to explain his presence without drawing suspicion. “Sure, that would be great. Anytime after noon is good.”
I hugged Sidney and Allie goodbye and did the same to Luca, forcing myself not to linger for a second longer than I had with them.
Auggie was already glittered up when I arrived. “Hey babe. Looking a little rough tonight. You okay?”
“Just tired.” I covered a yawn that snuck its way out.
He rustled around in his bag and tossed me an energy drink. They weren’t a favorite of mine, but I cracked the top anyway, chugged down as much of it as I could stand, and passed it back to him half full.
“Are you getting too old for this, grandma?” Auggie joked.
“Oh, fuck off. We’re the same age, grandpa.” I shoved him playfully. “I’ve got a couple more years in me at least.”
“Better get hyped and prove it.” Auggie beamed at me, dragging me toward him so he could kiss the top of my head. “Go do your makeup. While I think you’re cute as a button with undereye circles, you know the rich bitches in the audience are weird about things like that. God forbid we look like anything except perfect little dolls.”
He hovered behind me while I made up my face until I looked far more awake. “Question.”
“Answer,” Auggie replied with a wink.
“You’re in an omega-only building, right?”
“Yep.”
“What’s the security like?”
“Pretty beefy. They installed new cameras and we have a door guard now after someone was harassed in the lobby a couple years ago. Jacked up the rent, but better safe than sorry. We’ve had no issues since.”
“Is it all rentals or are some of them being sold?”
Auggie shrugged. “Rentals as far as I know, but they’re pretty decent about customizing and making it your own. Why? Are you looking to move?”
“Maybe.” I had updated Auggie on everything that had happened after Kevin and Rodney had been kicked out of the club.
“I think one of the top-floor units above me is still available. Word in the building is that the omega there shacked up with a pack finally. It’s one of the biggest ones in the building, though, so not a lot of people can afford it. Want me to get more info for you?”
“Sure. Message me whatever info you can get and I’ll see if I can go view it.”
