I wiped a stray tear from the corner of my eye. “What happens with the interview?”

  “It’s on hold for now,” she said with a withdrawn expression. She’d all but rejected me. Once I left the room, I would be forgotten.

  “Maybe you’ll have better luck with the interview than I did. It will give you the chance to reestablish your friendship with Victoria,” I suggested, hoping Colette would appease some of my curiosity regarding the elusive woman she seemed preoccupied with.

  She blinked, looking startled, as if surprised I was still there.

  “You may leave now. I have a lot to catch up on, as well as fixing your mistake so your inadequate work performance doesn’t make me look bad.” She flicked her hand in a dismissal.

  There was so much I wanted to ask. Most importantly about the mystery surrounding Colette and Victoria, and why Colette chose me to infiltrate Victoria’s world when she could have done it with much better results.

  Before she grew impatient, I thanked her for the opportunity even though it didn’t work out and left her office, devastated by how much of a flop I had turned out to be.

  ***

  “Get that sour puss off your face. It’s over and done with, and you can’t change anything, so let’s celebrate your birthday like we planned to.” Jayden tugged me down the sidewalk even though I dragged my feet.

  “Puss off your face? Who says that?” I griped, hurrying alongside him. People dressed for a night on the town jammed the sidewalk. Two blocks away from Hutson’s, a line formed to get in even though it wasn’t nine o’clock yet.

  “I spent a few hours after work with my grandmama so don’t make fun of me.” He drew his other arm around me and swung me in a circle.

  I giggled in spite of my still-crappy mood. “What is up with you? Did you pre-game before we left the apartment?” I’d given him a short overview of my conversation with Colette as we got ready for tonight. He told me to brush it off and look on the bright side of things—I didn’t have to stress any longer about impressing Colette or bend over backward with Victoria, whom he now thought of as a pretentious bitch because of her bailing on dinner.

  “You know I always have two shots of tequila before we go out.” He bypassed the long line of people and went over to the front where two bouncers guarded the doors.

  People in line gave us dirty looks as Jayden slapped hands with the two men. They waved us inside without looking at our IDs. One of the guys gave me a friendly smile and said I looked great. I nodded in thanks, trying not to blush. Compliments, even from men, made me feel awkward. I guess following Jayden’s recommendation I wear my white chiffon-sleeve top with black flared jeans and wedge sandals had worked in my favor.

  It was already humid inside, and every table and booth, as well as the bar, was filled. But I didn’t worry because the circular booth in the back was reserved for family and friends. We crossed the crowded floor toward the booth.

  Maxine was easy to locate. She always wore high heels or boots that added height to her already generous five-foot-eight frame. She loved wearing bright colors and pastels. Bouncy curls framed a round face that corresponded well with a body full of hips and curves most men admired. But all those men were out of luck. She liked women, enjoying her share of them over the years.

  She waved and met us on the edge of the stairs leading up to the VIP section. Brother and sister embraced and kissed. She then pushed Jayden aside and enclosed me in a welcoming hug.

  “Happy birthday, baby girl.” She kissed me on each cheek and then on my mouth.

  “I’m so glad to see you. I’ve had a rough week.” I gripped her hands.

  “What did my brother do now to piss you off?” She gave Jayden a judging side glare.

  He held up his hands. “Don’t look at me like that. Some shit rained down on Lindsay at work.”

  “I was almost fired.” Even though I was stretching the truth just a bit, I wanted sympathy. Maxine would definitely give me that and more.

  “Aw, girl, you can have anything you want to drink. The entire night is free of charge.” She snapped her fingers. “I have a great bottle of wine we can share. It will help loosen you up so you can enjoy yourself and not worry about your job.”

  “Count me in!” Jayden rubbed his hands together.

  I laughed along with Maxine who listed off all the drinks she wanted me to try. For once, I’d accept and not care about the hangover I might have the next morning. I wanted to forget about life for a while and pretend I wasn’t bland or basic as Colette accused me of being, or unimportant as Victoria proved when she tricked me into thinking she accepted me as her equal.

  ***

  “Are you getting me drunk?” I asked Maxine, clinking my glass to hers, and drank. An hour later, we had finished two bottles of wine with Jayden’s help. He eventually ended up behind the bar, pouring drinks for the rowdy crowd, but sent us over a round of shots.

  “I don’t want you drunk. Drunk is messy and leads to mistakes. You can’t be drunk for what I have planned for you. After this, we’ll take a breather.” Maxine hung her arm around my shoulder.

  “What you have planned for me? Sounds pretty ominous.” I gulped the shot, coughing from the burn of the booze hitting my throat. Wincing, I wished I had water to chase down what I just drank.

  “You know I’d never hurt you, right?” She tucked some of my hair that had separated from my braid behind my ear.

  Whoa, she sounded too serious. I didn’t want to blubber all over her if I ended up telling her about my craptastic week. One reason I came out with Jayden to Hutson’s was because she would be fun and flirty and help me forget the bad stuff.

  “You’re one of my closest friends.” I smiled, hiding the yawning sadness that had stuck with me since my talk with Colette.

  “Just friends, huh?” She circled the rim of her glass with a finger.

  Great, now the mood had been killed. Another big old fail whale by me. “I’m feeling a little dizzy. I’m going outside for some air.”

  “I’ll come with you. We can sneak out back, away from the smokers and the commotion out front.” She slid out of the booth, signaling me to follow her lead.

  Loud music blasted from on the second floor where people danced. The DJ was one of the reasons there was such a large crowd. He was a big celebrity in the dance club world. Maybe if I had another drink, I’d brave the dance floor.

  “Hold on to me.” She took my hand as we skirted beer drinkers and far too many groups doing shots. She never missed a step or even stopped to chat with the people who called to her. She merely nodded or waved at them as she moved forward, keeping me close as we made our way to freedom.

  “Don’t tell anyone about this. It will be our secret.” She opened the fire door leading out to the back alley.

  Two green dumpsters sat a few feet away. A small light over the door provided a clear view of the street. Muffled music and the buzz of conversation inside drifted over.

  I pushed back the hair sticking to the sides of my face and neck. I also felt moist in other areas such as under my arms and had a notable sweat ring near my waist.

  “I didn’t realize how hot it was in there. This feels nice.” I lifted my hair from the back of my sweaty neck and twisted it around to wrap it high on my head.

  “Here, let me help.” Maxine took the clip holding my hair back and unfastened it. My hair tumbled around my shoulders in a clumpy mess.

  She sifted her fingers through the strands but didn’t pull it back. “Happy birthday, Lindsay,” she said, her face much closer to mine.

  “You said that already. But thanks again.” I tried moving my head back, but she wouldn’t let go of my hair.

  “I was waiting for the right time to give you your birthday gift.”

  I’d never heard her nervous before. What type of gift did she want to give me that would make her jumpy?

  “What is it?”

  “Me. I want us to be more than just friends.”

  Holy smokes. I was afraid this was going to happen. I loved Maxine, but the same way I loved Jayden.

  “I-I don’t think it’s a good idea—”

  She placed her finger on my lips. “Let me try something first, and, if it doesn’t feel right for you, then we can reevaluate things.”

  I tried shaking the alcohol-induced cobwebs from my brain. “What do you mean?”

  “Show and tell.” She set her mouth to mine.

  I squeaked and then gasped as she kissed me. To say it was strange was an understatement. It didn’t feel right. It felt awkward. She didn’t seem to have the same reaction I did. She moaned and clutched my hips. When she tried slipping her tongue in between my lips, I twisted my head away.

  “I-I can’t do this with you.” I pushed her away.

  She stood there, dumbfounded. She didn’t look sorry for kissing me. “Lin, why won’t you give me, us, a chance? It would be really good between us if you’d just go with the flow.”

  “Go with the flow?” I snorted and thrust my hair over my shoulders. “I’m not attracted to you. Kissing you was weird. It could have ruined everything between us.”

  She crossed her arms and lifted her chin. “Then why were you all over me and getting your flirt on like you wanted me to take you home and into my bed?”

  My jaw dropped. She had everything all wrong!

  “Are you accusing me of…” My stomach churned, and nasty-tasting acid climbed up my throat. My head spun.

  “What’s wrong?” She laid a hand on my arm.

  “I think I’m going to be sick.” I covered my mouth and gulped in air.

  The door opened, and a muscular man in a black T-shirt with the Hutson’s logo in the middle appeared. “Max, we need you back inside. A fight is about to break out between the DJ’s entourage and some punks in the VIP section.”

  A scowl darkened her face. “I’ll be right in.”

  The man nodded and slipped back inside.

  She grabbed the door. “I’d better take care of this problem before the shit hits the fan. Why don’t you go to my office and lie down on my couch? You can also use my personal bathroom in case you’re sick.”

  I shut my eyes and nodded, leaning against the wall. Once my stomach calmed, I’d take her up on her offer.

  She ran her palm over my head. “No matter what happens between us, I’ll always care for you. We’ll talk after I deal with this situation, okay?”

  I nodded, pressing my mouth together to stop from vomiting. I gave her a thumbs-up, hoping it would appease her.

  “If you’re not back inside in five minutes, I’ll send someone out to check on you,” she said, slamming the door shut.

  I took in some deep breaths to help settle my stomach, which seemed to work. The glare from the lamp overhead made my head ache. I should have known better than to drink half a bottle of expensive wine and mix it with shots. Also, the shock of being kissed by Maxine didn’t help. The smell of rotting garbage in the dumpster wafted over, making me gag. Holding the wall, I made my way out front where I was met by a massive swell of people blocking the entrance to Hutson’s, jabbering about some actor who just arrived.

  My stomach lurched again, and I groaned. I was bumped from behind and lost my footing. Time seemed to slow down as I tumbled toward the street, shouting for help. A car horn blasted. I braced my hands forward for impact, but someone caught me around the waist and yanked me back before I crashed to the ground or a car hit me.

  I spun around, ready to hug my savior, but was stunned by Victoria holding me.

  “What the hell is wrong with you? You could have been seriously injured.” She held my upper arms and shook me.

  “Who…what…stop shakin’ me…gonna be sick.” I rested my forehead on her chest and took deep breaths. I didn’t care why she was here or how she had found me.

  “Did someone slip something into your drink? Is that why your hair is messy and you were kissing some strange woman in the alley?”

  “Huh?” I blinked up at her.

  “You’re wasted.” She glowered.

  In my drunken state, it looked more like she pouted. For some reason I found it hysterical and flicked her bottom lip. “You have a boo-boo lip.”

  Her pout disappeared and became a frown. “You need to sober up.”

  “I don’t need to listen to you, Nox!” I pointed my finger at her face, catching the tip of her nose.

  She grasped my wrist. “I can’t believe your friends left you out here alone and drunk.”

  “My friends are inside. Maxine owns the place and had to take care of business. She was the one kissing me—”

  A loud popping sound and crashing glass erupted around me. Screams broke out, and a wave of people ran past, pushing me into Victoria. I landed on the ground, the concrete digging into my knees. Victoria tried to pull me up, but my head spun, and I started puking.

  I didn’t remember much after that.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  I woke with dry mouth and a queasy stomach, staring up at an unrecognizable ceiling. My vision blurred, and it took more than a few blinks to bring the room into focus—a bedroom I’d never seen before. Trying not to panic, I sat up. The bed was double the size of mine and covered with fluffy pillows. I wasn’t naked under the soft white sheet but dressed in a large faded T-shirt with some sports logo on it and cotton shorts.

  I moved to the edge of the bed and stood, thrilled my legs didn’t shake or my stomach riot. Other than cotton mouth and an upset stomach, there weren’t any lasting effects of my drinking last night. I saw the time on the electronic alarm clock on the bedside table. It was a little past eleven.

  Yawning, I went into the bathroom and shut the door. The need to pee was strong and took over any current thought or question I might have about my strange surroundings. I flushed the toilet and approached the sink near a shower encircled in frosted glass. I took one look at my reflection in the mirror and winced.

  Mascara smudged under my bloodshot eyes. My face was paler than usual, my lips colorless and chapped. My hair was knotted and snarled. Glancing down, I caught sight of my upper thighs and knees slightly discolored with bruises.

  “What happened to me last night?” I asked the mirror. Growing anxious, I turned on warm water and splashed my face, using a towel on a rack near the shower to wipe away any residue. The mascara didn’t come completely off and still rimmed my eyes, but some color returned to my cheeks.

  Memories of last night hit me. It didn’t take much of a guess to figure out where I was and who had brought me here. I needed answers, and the one way I would find them was if I went to the source. I opened the bathroom door, ready to scout around, but I didn’t have to. Victoria sat on the edge of the bed, dressed in black stretch pants and a matching hoodie.

  “Um, hi.” I rubbed my toes on top of my other foot. “Is this your bedroom?”

  She rose and came over to me. I reclined against the doorframe as she examined my face.

  “Are you hungover? I made sure you drank water and took some aspirin before I put you to bed.” She indicated the wrinkled sheets. “This is one of my guest bedrooms. You slept here at my penthouse last night.”

  “Why am I here? What happened last night?” May face grew hot as I thought back to how I almost got hit by a car and ending up puking before passing out.

  “A friend of the DJ got into a scuffle with some pop singer and his group. Shots were fired, and there was chaos. It was on the morning news.”

  “Oh no.” I cupped my cheeks. “That’s Jayden’s family’s bar. Remember him? He’s my roommate. His sister, Maxine, runs the place. I should call them.” I scanned the room for my purse and my clothes.

  “Calm down.” She drew me away from the bathroom and guided me over to the bed. “I talked to him this morning. He knows you’re with me.”

  “You did?” I sat on the bed, still disoriented.

  “I told him it was a coincidence I saw you there, and I wanted to explain to you why I canceled dinner on Tuesday night. When the fight broke out, we left, and you came back with me to my place.” She sat down next to me, her shoulder brushing mine.

  “But is it a coincidence?” I wouldn’t put it past her to have tracked me there.

  “Not entirely.” She stared ahead. “I went to your apartment, hoping to speak to you. Your neighbor said you and Jayden were probably at Hutson’s. I told my driver to take me there. I didn’t realize it would be so packed.”

  “Hutson’s is a popular bar, and the DJ spinning there has a big fan base,” I explained. “Jayden took me there to celebrate my birthday.”

  “Some birthday, huh?” She pressed her shoulder to mine.

  “Next time, I’ll lay off on drinking so much. After the crappy week I had, I thought it would help me unwind.” I snorted, thinking back to what Maxine had said. I did go home with someone and ended up in their bed but not Maxine’s.

  “You have this strange look on your face.” She ran a finger down my cheek.

  I shifted away from her touch, which wasn’t all that unpleasant. “Why didn’t you show up for our dinner?”

  Her forehead knitted. “Did Colette fire you because I canceled dinner?”

  I jumped up from the bed and hugged my arms to my chest. Always with Colette!

  “No, she didn’t fire me, but I’ll never be her assistant now or have a shot at becoming a writer for Virago or any other magazine if she has her say.”

  “You can always come work for me, if you’re interested.”

  I didn’t miss her smug expression. I lowered my arms and curled my fingers into my palms. “It isn’t funny. I’ve lost the respect of someone I once admired. I can’t afford to lose my job, and I refuse to return home to my parents a failure.”

  “I won’t let you run home to your parents, crushed because of.…” She stood and folded her arms behind her back. “I’m not your favorite person right now, but there’s a reason I had to speak to you and why I brought you back here. I also have a good excuse why I didn’t make our dinner. If you stay for breakfast, I’ll explain.”