Page 66 of All For You Duet

A magnolia flower sits beside my black clutch. Fuck him, I grin. I hate magnolias.

Glancing into my bathroom, a note is written in lipstick on the mirror, and I walk in.

You’re looking at the most

beautiful woman alive.

Be ready at 7.

It’s a date.

With an Asshole

Looking back at my bed, I’m shocked. How did he have time to buy those? A new pair of white lace panties and a matching bra are there too.

What’s this sensation?

Hope. Romance. My first date with anyone.

With Redix.

I check my phone and have four hours to get ready and a text.

PENNY

Why do I feel like you’re about to get your heart broken?

Again!

It takes her one ring to answer. “Please tell me it’s not true.”

“Let me guess; Jameson has a big mouth.”

“Jameson has a broken heart.”

“I never promised him anything, and we never even kissed. And thank God,” I say, “because we work together and have nine unsolved cases and—”

“And you have a hot, jealous, unstable, famous ex-fiancé who no man can compete with,” Penny adds before I can keep explaining why this bad risk is a good idea.

“I love him, Penny.” I watch my face in the mirror say it; never have I looked more certain. “We have a lot to work out, but I need to give us a chance.”

Silence.

I hear Nina crying in the background.

“Is this his only chance?” Penny finally speaks. “Promise me this is the last one.”

“I promise.”

Do I really? Will I ever be over Redix?

I hear her pick Nina up. “Did you at least fuck him? Please tell me you did so some of this would be worth it.”

“Not really.”

I start rummaging through my makeup drawer.

“How do you not really fuck Redix Dean? One hundred and thirty million of his followers would.”