Page 92 of One Midnight Kiss

She nodded. “I’ll take it.”

“So where is she now?” Wilder asked.

“She’s supposed to come here, right?” I asked, glancing at Christa.

Christa’s face fell, and she shook her head. “No. She’s not coming.”

My stomach dropped. “Why not?”

Christa hesitated, then sighed. “She’s on a plane to Paris right now.”

“She got the invitation,” I said.

“What?” Christa asked with confusion.

I cursed under my breath. “I have to go. Thanks for saving my ass. And for the place to sleep.”

Wilder grabbed my arm as I started for the door. “Fox, wait. What are you going to do?”

“I need to find a mask.” I rushed out of their house and looked around. I didn’t drive last night. I quickly pulled up my app to call an uber, hoping someone was working on Christmas. Thankfully, I managed to get a ride.

I got back to my building and hopped in the elevator. My heart was pounding. She had to know it was me when I told her last night.

So why did she run?

I couldn’t explain it. I practically ran down the hall to my door, expecting to find an invitation to the party. I stepped on something in the hallway. A sticky note crinkled and half-stuck to the floor. I picked it up, barely glancing at it before opening the door. I looked at the floor, hoping to see that an invitation had been slipped under my door. I didn’t see anything. I tossed the sticky note on the counter and rushed into my room to pack a bag.

I didn’t have an invitation. Maybe it was in my actual mailbox. I grabbed my keys and rushed back to the elevator. Every second felt like an eternity. I made it to the wall of mailboxes and quickly opened mine. I sorted through stacks of junk mail, a few Christmas cards and bills, but there was no elegant invitation. How was I going to get into that party without an invitation? I was on the verge of tearing my hair out as I ran back upstairs.

I grabbed my phone as soon as I walked through the door, dialing the airline without a second thought. I needed the first flight to Paris, no matter the cost.

I was going and I was getting into that party. Period. I wasn’t letting her get away.

Not for a third time.