Page 16 of Ink & Ambition

“Sounds like jealousy to me,” Dani shrugs and I give her a pointed look. Just then, my phone buzzes in my pocket, signaling an incoming text. As I pull it out, I see a message from an unknown number.

Don't be mad at me

Immediately, I know who the text is from. But it doesn’t answer the question of how he got my phone number in the firstplace. I don’t even want to respond. I don’t have to think about it too hard before more texts come in.

I promised I'd explain, didn't I?

Give me a chance, sunshine

I roll my eyes and send a text back before I lose my nerve.

Sorry, you must be confusing me with some other "whore" who'd let you speak to her that way

I didn't mean to call you that. It just slipped out.

Even better

I hope he picks up on the sarcasm leaking through my words. As if it’s okay to call someone that even by accident? What an idiot.

I'm sorry, okay? I promise it won't happen again

Don't go back on our deal. You need me, remember?

Think about the New York Times…

Ugh, would you shut up for a second? I'm thinking

Atta girl

I said shut up

He sends a zip-lipped emoji and I roll my eyes, dropping the phone onto my lap. “He has a point,” Danika shrugs.

“He’s repugnant,” I counter, then I sigh. “What do I do?”

“At the very least you need to let him explain what you’ve signed up for with the prank. Then you can decide if you still want his help or not,” Sydney pipes up from the armchair. I pull up my phone to answer this already incredibly annoying boy.

You have five minutes. Explain

I can practically see the grin on Alex’s face as he types this next text and the three of us wait anxiously for it to arrive. What could he even need me for? I’m not a prankster. I’ve never pranked anyone in my entire life.

The gray dots keep appearing and disappearing. At this rate, he’s using all five of his minutes to send this message. Finally, after I’ve already downed half the water bottle and am visualizing what pajamas I’m going to put on, the text rolls in.

Can't tell you via text. Too easily traced. Meet me at Cafe Royale tomorrow at 9am. I'll even buy you a coffee

“The boy has officially lost his mind,” I say, showing the screen to Dani and Syd before turning to Danika. “Why have you set me up with this psychopath?”

Even she seems speechless for a moment before she cracks a huge grin. “This is all very intriguing though, isn’t it?” She doesn’t have a chance to dodge the pillow I throw at her head in response.

“This is completely ludicrous. I’m not going to entertain this any longer. It was fun while it lasted,” I say, physically and mentally wiping my hands of this entire idea. I’ll find someone else to do a podcast with. Maybe I can ask a professor to hostwith me? That’ll be interesting…for no one. My phone buzzes again.

Don't chicken out, sunshine. Meet me tomorrow

“God, he’s relentless! I’m so over this. And how did he even get my phone number?” Tossing my phone into the couch, I walk to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Sydney follows, but Danika takes a few seconds before meeting us at the mirror.

As we brush our teeth, Danika talks her usual gibberish that I can’t understand but I know she’s on her soapbox about Alex and giving him a chance. With her mouth full of toothpaste, she prattles on and on, knowing I have no idea what the hell she’s saying but that doesn’t stop her. Sydney and I give each other that look we always share when it comes to Dani.

We’re both done before her and she finally spits out the remaining suds from her mouth. “All I’m saying is, you’ll be glad that you went.”

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