Page 1 of Mile High Addiction

1

The first thing Bethany Green saw when she opened her mailbox on Friday evening was the indigo-colored envelope.Against the rest of the junk mail and bills, it stood out like an exotic jewel in the dust.

Even as she cautioned herself against excitement, her heart skipped several beats.Fingers trembling, she reached for the rectangular envelope and felt it, real and heavy in her hand.

“Omigod, it came.It actually came.”Realizing she was talking to herself, albeit in the empty foyer of her apartment building, she quickly stuffed the mail in her oversized handbag and hurried to the elevator.

She’d barely stabbed the button for the fourth floor before she pulled the envelope out again.The words written on the front in raised gold embossed lettering were simple—Your Invitation.She turned it over.No return address.No surprise there.Because, seriously, only a crazy person would turn down this invitation.

Ten minutes later, Bethany, despite being fortified with half a glass of Rioja, still hadn’t gathered the courage to open it.The harsh buzz of her cellphone made her jump.Unable to tear her gaze from the envelope, which now rested on her coffee table, she fumbled on the sofa for a few seconds before her fingers closed over her phone.

“We still on for tapas in an hour, right?”Keely Benson, her best friend, snapped in her no-nonsense Brooklyn twang.

Keely was pure New Yorker, not an up-stater like Bethany.Many times during their long friendship, Bethany had thanked God for having Keely in her life.She’d been there for her when Bethany had been hit with the worst news of her life.

“Umm… yeah… I guess,” Bethany replied, her attention still absorbed by the envelope.

“You… guess?How many times over the last week have I told you how important tonight is to me?Fuck, Bethany, if you chicken out on me, I’ll never forgive you.You know Clark will never go all the way if I come on too strong.I need you to pull me back.Once I get him to my place, I’ll be fine, but I can’t have him wimping out on me at dinner, and for that to happen, I need you there!”

“Jesus, Keel, I’ve never understood your insane addiction to nerds.”

Her friend gave a rich laugh that started off as a schoolgirl giggle and ended in a dominatrix’s growl.Bethany had seen grown men drool like little boys when Keely laughed.

“You don’t need to understand, baby girl.All you need to do is to turn up and help a friend out.”

“I… Okay, sure, I’ll be there.”

Keely huffed with impatience.“Okay, tell me what’s going on.You haven’t had another run-in with She-male, have you?”

Bethany smirked at the nickname they’d coined for her balls-shriveling boss.“No, she’s out of town till Tuesday.”

“Then what the hell’s the problem?”

“It came,” Bethany blurted out, incapable of keeping the news to herself any longer.

“It?What it?”

“An invitation.To The Indigo Lounge.”

Silence.For as long as Bethany had known her, Keely had never been at a loss for words.For her to be silent now made Beth’s heart hammer.Her friend knew, just as she did, the gravity of the moment.

“You’re.Shitting.Me!”she finally whispered.

“I am not.”A sound bubbled up from Bethany’s throat—half incredulous, half terrified.Because she still couldn’t believe what her eyes were telling her.

“Have you opened it?What does it say?When do you leave?How long for?Are you allowed to bring a guest?Fuck it, girl, spill!”

“I… haven’t opened it yet.And, seriously, Keely, I don’t think I want to.”

“You don’t think you want to open it or you don’t think you want to accept the invitation?”

“Umm… both?I mean, there’s no way I can get away on such short notice.Besides, I have too much work to do at the moment.June is our busiest month because it’s right before everyone disappears for the summer… It’s just not practical?—”

“Bethany!”Keely’s steely voice cut across hers.

“Yes?”

“How much wine do you have at your place?”

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