Page 37 of Hard to Resist

“Definitely one of the better ones.” She winks.

God, I love her.

We get to the table, which is packed with expensive bottles of tequila and vodka and has a ratio of seventy percent women to thirty percent men—and all the girls are clearly hotter. One of the girls pulls Hannah into a conversation, and while I know a few of the people here, I don’t know them that well. Hannah and I have been living in the city the same length of time, but it never ceases to amaze me how widespread her social circle runs.

I pull out my phone to check the time and see another text from Cullen from an hour ago.

CULLEN:get home safely tonight. Text me in the morning if you want to grab breakfast before I fly back.

My stomach fills with the fluttering of butterfly wings. It is a little past one right now, and he is surely asleep, but I can’t resist shooting him a text back.

ME:don’t worry, the subway is always open

I stifle a laugh, loving this inside joke we have going.

My eyes widen as my phone vibrates with a new text message.

He’s still up?

CULLEN:don’t play with me Verity

ME:idk what ur talking about

CULLEN:it’s 1:30am

ME:and?

CULLEN:Verity.

ME:What? are u going to call me a car again?

CULLEN:if i have to

CULLEN:seriously, just tell me when and I’ll get you a ride

ME:Hannah prob wont leave till 3…

CULLEN:that’s fine i can wait

I purse my lips, but the apples of my cheeks still puff up with the smile that pokes through. Is it bad that a part of me loves this?

At first, I felt a little guilty that he was calling me these rideshares, but it kind of makes me feel special. He is showing he cares, even though he is getting nothing out of it. It’s refreshing.

I glance back up to check on Hannah, spotting her with a cute guy. She has one arm resting lazily over his shoulder, and he has a hand on her hip. I can feel the sexual tension between them from over here. He has to be the guy she was telling me about.

I mean, if she is going to go home with him, then maybe I can dip without feeling bad?

The balls of my feet are hurting from standing in heels for so long, and most of the alcohol I’ve drunk over the last few hours is wearing off, leaving me more tired than tipsy.

ME:actually, i kinda do want to head home

CULLEN:i got you - where are you?

I send him my location, but when a few minutes pass without a response, I start to get a little worried.

Did he fall asleep?

I try not to let the disappointment curdle in my gut. It’s not like he has any obligation to send me home, but that doesn’t lessen the hurt from the anticipation I’ve built.

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