Page 56 of Imperial: The Corvidae Family
I threw my head back, laughing. “Shut up.”
“I cannot believe this. You’ve been running around acting all nonchalant, and meanwhile, Emir got you out here glowing.”
“I am not glowing.”
“You are.” She grabbed her phone. “I need a picture of this moment. I want proof for later when you try to act like this didn’t happen.”
“Rachelle—”
She ignored me, typing something. “Also, I need to text Mariah, because we bet that you were gonna fold.”
“Why the hell do your co-workings know about my personal shit?”
“Girl relax. They don’t know you and I didn’t tell themwhoor the details. Just the situation after you played in my face trying to keep this from me.”
My mouth fell open. “And you placed bets on my personal life?”
She grinned. “Just a small office pool but don’t worry, I won. I knew that man was gonna slut you out because you were trying too hard to act like it wasn’t a thing. You owe me lunch, friend.”
I groaned, throwing a pillow at her again, but she just caught it, laughing.
“Alright, fine, I’ll give you a break,” she said, smirking. “But just know, the second I get one drink in me later, I’m gonna be asking for all the details.”
“Why are we friends?”
“Because I’m amazing.” She stood up, stretching. “Now, let me get dressed. We’re going shopping. You need sexy things to keep this glow up.”
My stomach flipped at the thought of putting on something sexy because the first thing that came to mind was Emir taking it off.
We hitShops at Crescent Falls first, stopping at every store that piqued our interest with no agenda other than to spend money and talk shit.
At some point, we wandered into the lingerie boutique Kameron Tyler had just opened. She wastheBlack designer. Her black labels were expensive and exclusive but she recently started an affordable line that still carried the same qualityof her original brand. Rachelle immediately started grabbing things off the racks.
“Oooooh, Baylyn,” she sang, holding up a red lace set that barely covered anything. “This is so you.”
“That’s see through.”
“Exactly,” she said, tossing it over her arm. “It’s sexy.”
I sighed, running my fingers over a rack of silk robes. I hesitated before picking up a black one with lace trim.
“Ohhhh. So you are thinking about him.”
“It’s just a robe.”
“Mmhmm. And I bet he would love to see you in it...or out of it.” She stuck her tongue out.
I ignored her and headed to the dressing room, but she wasn’t wrong.
I picked up a matching black lace set too. After we were done we stopped at a Brewed Bean, indulging in fancy pastries and lattes because why not? I was in the middle of taking a bite of my cheesecake square when my phone vibrated.
Emir: What are you up to, beautiful?
I smiled drinking my latte.
Me: Shopping. Girls' day with Rachelle.
Emir: You having fun?
