Page 11 of Giovanni the Savage

"I realized my house was too far from the club, so I decided to crash here tonight." She shrugs.

She's taking advantage of having a key to my apartment as my best friend.

I roll my eyes, grab the bottle of wine, and chug directly from the bottle. I really need something to calm me down after the marathon.

"Speaking of warnings." She wiggles her brows at me. "Did you give me any warning that you’d be spending the night with the hunk?"

I pause with the bottle on my lips and put it down, still staring at her.

"I assure you I didn't spend the night with him," I reply dryly.

"Yeah, so why do you look freshly fucked?" She nods at my disheveled hair.

Maybe because I was running for my life?

"We didn't have sex, trust me."

My answer makes my chest flutter, and against my will, my head starts conjuring up images of spending the night with him. He doesn't look like he’d take it easy. From the dark look in his eyes to his confident stride.

Yeah, I need more wine.

"Chill, girl," Ashley warns and takes the bottle from me. "Was it that bad you're trying to forget?"

As if.

"For the hundredth time, Ashley," I groan. "We didn't have sex. For Christ's sake, I don't even know his name."

Her mouth pops open. "Are you serious?"

"Grateful you're finally catching on," I mutter sarcastically.

She adjusts on her stool.

"Wait, why are you back so late? What'd you guys do when you went upstairs?"

I shoot her a look. "Were you stalking me?"

"I think the better phrase is, looking out for my friend.” She winks.

I shake my head and move to the sink to wash my hands.

The silence stretches for a while. Ashley is drinking from her glass, and I stare into space.

"Why are you so quiet though? You kind of look shaken up."

Ever intuitive.

While I want to tell her exactly what happened, I don't want to scare my best friend and try to forget the ordeal myself.

The sound of the footsteps is still ringing in my head; even now it feels like someone is watching me, though I know it's all in my head.

"Do I?" I clear my throat.

"Uhm, duh?" she deadpans. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Maybe a ghost would have been better because at least I'd be sure that I wasn't being followed.

I laugh lightly and wave my hands, brushing it off.

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