Page 156 of Never Sleep with the Enemy

Logan nods, understanding. “The Battle’s back on, then,” he says.

I smile, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Yeah,” I whisper. “It is.”

I kiss him again, the park fading into a blur as my heart expands.

38

KATRINA

“So, anyway...” Tesla waves a hand, casually. “I didn’t know the guy was the mayor’s son. Even if I had...” Her lips curl. “Well, I still probably would’ve stolen the car. I might not have driven it off the top of a parking garage.”

Mouths hang open around the ladies’ dressing room. All of us girls are perched on the edges of our seats. Everyone except Goldie, who just smiles, looking like she’s watching her favorite movie for the thousandth time.

I stand in front of a full-length mirror, doing my best not to stab myself in the eye with my mascara wand every time Tesla opens her mouth.

It’s all so...wow.

“Goddamn,” Addison says from the couch against the wall, dressed in jeans and a crisp white tube top, her makeup airbrushed to perfection. Beside her, Harmony scrolls throughGossipaarticles on her phone, her mother Laurie sitting beside her, mouth agape. “You’re kind of a badass, Tesla Kyle.”

Tesla bats her lashes. “Once upon a time. I’m a model citizen now. Or... that’s what Stella told me I have to be. At least until the trial. Oh—” She winces. “She also said I’m not supposed to tell anyone about this, so you’re all under oath. Or... something.”

Harmony glances up. “If these comments are legit, there might not even be a trial,” she says, reading aloud: “As an Atlantan, good luck finding twelve people willing to convict her. That mayor was corrupt trash and his son was no better. Hashtag free Tesla Kyle,all caps. Hashtag our hero.”

Tesla hums with delight. “Well, that’s nice! And yes, that familywastrash.”

“Trial or no,” Jordan says, her arms crossed over her clipboard as she leans against the wall, “your secret’s safe with us. Your... very wild, very crazy, veryunbelievablesecret.”

“Wild, crazy, and unbelievable,” Goldie says, beaming at Tesla. “That’s my blue.”

Tesla bats her lashes again. Pure adoration.

“Hold on,” Addison cuts in. “So,whowas actually in the coffin?”

Tesla gasps so dramatically she nearly falls off her stool. “Oh, my god! Icompletelyforgot the best part!”

Everyone leans in like a campfire story is about to start.

Meanwhile, I turn back to the mirror, giving myself one last check. My sundress hugs my frame with simple elegance—blue, yellow, and white. My hair tumbles over my shoulders in loose waves, catching the light. I gently sweep it back behind my left shoulder and smile, proud of the little enamel pin glinting near my heart.

A yellow lightning bolt.

No matter what happens tonight,Goldie told me when she gave it to me,you’re one of us now.

“Hey, Kat.”

I flinch to my right and find Marla Gorchinsky—no, MarlaBotsford—smiling sheepishly as she lifts both hands in surrender.

“Sorry,” she says. “Didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”

“You didn’t,” I say with a quiet laugh. “I’m just...”

“Nervous?”

“A little, yeah.”

“You’re gonna be great. I mean, you’realwaysgreat.”

I smile. “Thanks.”

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