Page 380 of Talk Swoony to Me

I bow my head. “Thank you, Kingston.”

He takes a step back and pats the button on his jacket. “Don’t forget to vote this year,” he says with a wink.

I hold up my button. “Wouldn’t miss it,” I say.

Kingston offers a wave and disappears into the adoring crowd. I settle onto the wall again and quietly glance around as the event continues. The excitement in the air is practically contagious. Even I feel a few butterflies in my chest tonight.

Or are they for tomorrow?

I scan for Paige again. Her path through the crowd ended where it began by the stage. She now hovers in Graham’s shadow with her clipboard in hand, just like always. A strand of her blonde hair has escaped her tight ponytail and hangs down to scratch the lens of her glasses. A single mark of imperfection in an otherwise perfect package that’s only grown more enticing in the four years since I ripped it open and claimed it for my own.

That’s where it ended. Before it ever began. Just one night. She was lonely, and I was… there.

So, why is she acting so fucking weird?

I reach for my phone in my pocket as another spike of applause travels through the room. Judging by the wave of feminine swoons rising with it, I can only guess Fiona pulled one of her more famous sons on stage with her.

I swipe open my email app and smile at the new, unread message from Angela.

Thanks for the head’s up on the audit, Mr. Big Shot. I’ll keep the place extra messy for you. ;)

I roll my eyes before scrolling down to tomorrow’s flight confirmation. I quickly forward it to Paige as I promised her I would earlier, along with a note.

I’ll pick you up at 7. How do you like your coffee?

I find her again by the stage as she turns her hand up to read her phone. After a few lightning fast taps, my phone flashes with a notification.

Thanks, but I have a few errands to run in the morning. I’ll meet you at the airport. -P

I bite my cheek. Well, that’s disappointing.

I’d hoped to have the chance to air out this laundry beforehand, but it appears she’s keen on avoiding me for as long as she can.

She can’t hide forever, though.

CHAPTER 4

PAIGE

four years ago . . .

Two knocks tap at my door.

My pulse skips with them, pumping nervous excitement throughout my veins. I give my room one more glance-over for imperfections — just plain habit at this point in my career as Graham’s assistant. King-sized bed, perfectly tucked in. Two chairs nestled in place at a coffee table by the window overlooking the Las Vegas Strip. Bedside lamps off, though — maybe I should turn one on to help set the mood…

I give it a flick, and it illuminates the dark corner.

Perfect, I say to myself.

I shuffle toward the door, checking myself in the mirror as I go. I haven’t changed a thing since I left the bar downstairs, but something feels different. Blonde hair. Big eyes behind blue-rimmed glasses. It’s casual, cool. Just like me… sometimes.

I take one more breath before exhaling hard and opening the door.

Oliver.

He looks me over as that token smirk crawls up his cheek.

“Hey,” I greet.

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