Page 37 of Not Safe For Work

“I guess.”

“So why did you call me?”

“I’m not sure. I saw the text and…” I trail off, still not really knowing why I called.

“And you thought your night would be better with me in it?”

“Exactly.” Maybe he’s on to something.

“Where’s the event?” he asks.

“Nob Hill. The Fairmont.”

“Really?” His voice sounds overly eager. “Can you get away?”

“Yeah, all the important parts are over.” I could just go home now, which is probably what I should do.

“Meet me in the lobby in twenty minutes.” And he hangs up.

CHAPTER TWELVE

GAVIN

“You’re leavingin the middle of game night?” Gabby pouts at me from across the table. Then she throws her cards up in the air. As dramatic as ever.

“Sorry Gabs. If it’s between Uno and a Mai Tai, I’m going Mai Tai every time.”

I head to my room to change. The Fairmont is one of the nicer hotels in San Francisco, so I assume Liv is dressed up. Probably can’t show up in my usual uniform. Locating a clean and wrinkle-free pair of pants takes a few minutes. Luckily a shirt’s easier.

I call an Uber so I don’t show up sweating buckets from climbing Nob Hill, but it’s still five minutes away. More than enough time for Gabby to scold me some more.

“You’re completely falling for her again, aren’t you?”

“Kadesha, can you please be more attentive to my sister? She is spending way too much time worrying about me.”

Kadesha pulls Gabby into a hug. “She is very well attended to, I promise. We just care about you. Neither of us want you to get hurt again.”

Oh god, now it’s both of them. “No one is hurting me. Liv and I are friends now. And she sounded like she needed one.”

My phone buzzes, alerting me that Dale in a silver Jetta is now two minutes away. “Gotta go. Have fun girls.”

I took some adorable pictures of Churro tonight, so I fire another one off to Liv, along with the message “Quill be there soon.” She might think my puns are stupid, but I’m pretty sure the last one got me a phone call. Now I just need to work on some better lines.

Entering the Fairmont is a little trippy. It’s like decoration overload. But it only takes me a second to spot Liv and her diamond-covered shoes.

“Hi,” I say, tapping her on the shoulder. She turns to face me, and her wide smile is absolutely everything.

“Scottie!” She hugs me. Well, she sort of falls onto me with open arms. “I wasn’t sure if you were actually coming.”

“Didn’t you get my text?”

“Phone died.” She shrugs. “You’re here.”

“I’m here.”

“And you’re all…fancy.” Her gaze follows the length of my body. I have to remind myself a few times that she's admiring the outfit and not me. “I’m not sure you want to go to the event though. It’s sort of stuffy and it’s all jazz music and?—”

I place my hands on her shoulders. “It’s all good, Sparkles. I have another plan anyway.” She takes a quick breath and relaxes a bit. “Ever been to the Tonga Room?”

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