Page 17 of Lost Love

The piercing ring of a phone cut through my gaze. Startled, she opened her eyes to find me staring.

Yes, I was creeping.

She rolled over, exposing her bare back while reaching for her phone on the nightstand.

“Shit, it’s Lourde, again,” she said in a panicked voice.

“Just take it.” I groaned.

“Lourde.” She bolted upright, leaning against the leather headboard.

“Hey, Pepper, finally!”

Lourde’s voice shrieked down the line loud enough for me to hear.

“Oh, hey,” she said in a high-pitched voice.

I nudged Pepper. Even I knew she soundedoff.

“You all right? Where have you been? I’ve tried calling.”

She scolded me with her dark brown eyes and returned to her conversation.

“Yes, I know, sorry, I just had the flu, so I’m laying low.”

“Since when?”

“I think all that boozing at your party hit me over the head the next day.”

“Do you need me to come by and make you some soup or something?”

“No!” Pepper yelled, and I could tell she felt uneasy.

“Okay, I know you’re stubborn, but geez.”

“Thanks, hun, but I’ll be fine,” she said, smoothing it over.

“Hey, by the way, what happened to you at the party? You just disappeared.”

Oh fuck.Pepper threw me a startled expression, and I couldn’t help but drag my hand up her exposed thigh.

“Oh, did I?”

“Yes, Grace and I were worried.”

A nervous laugh escaped Pepper’s mouth.

“Did you get lucky, Pepper Little?”

“Okay, fine. Don’t ask me his name because I couldn’t tell you. I was that drunk.” She shrugged, putting her hand against my lips in a pathetic effort to shut me up.

“Oh, hell to Jake then!”

“Jake, who?” Pepper teased out.

“Well, you best get better because next weekend is the ball, and there will be some gorgeous men there.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t miss the annual ball for anything!” Pepper said, genuinely excited.

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