Page 41 of Playing With Danger

And it wasn’t a lie; Hayden did mark my cycle on the calendar hanging in the kitchen. The first time I saw it I ranted and raged about it for an hour, explaining to him he was a jerk and he was lucky not to experience cramps and bleeding. It was three days before my period started when he circled the day on the calendar and in bold, upper-case letters wrote CODE RED. From then on, four days before my period started he always had my favorite salt and vinegar chips in the house, and three days before my period he made himself absent.

Since we were back to us, meaning he’d forgiven me and was back to teasing, I gave him more.

I’m going out. Don’t wait up for me.

Tell Valentine I said hey and I won’t be home tonight.

I rolled my eyes at the Valentine comment.

Be safe. Look both directions before

crossing the street and use protection.

Yes, Mommy.

GROSS.

I got two laughing emojis and a sideways laughing emoji and a blue heart.

I sent back a middle finger and purple heart.

His next text came as my driver was pulling into the parking lot of Balls Deep.

Just be you. The Sophie I know and he’ll fall in love.

If he doesn’t he’s a fool and not good enough for you.

In the meantime have fun. Get yourself some and be happy.

It’s time, Huxley.

It’s time, Huxley.

Butterflies took flight in my belly.

All my life I’d been a chickenshit. I didn’t take chances and the one time I did and put myself out there I was royally screwed over.

Just so you know, when you find her,

she better be perfect and if she hurts

you I’ll claw her face off.

Knew that already. Now stop bothering me I’m busy.

At least one of us was getting themselves some tonight.

Because it wouldn’t be me.

I used my app to give my driver a tip, tossed my phone in my purse, and got out of the car.

With a big breath I readied myself to face Hot Cop—my friend.

11

I knew the second Sophie walked in the door. Ethan’s partner and my friend Jase’s attention went over my shoulder. His eyes fixated on something and did an up-and-down sweep. I focused my body to stay relaxed and my hand wrapped around my beer not to crush the can.

“Goddamn,” Jase muttered.

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