Chapter 26

• Annabelle pulled into her driveway and sat in the car for several moments, humming to the music pouring out of the speakers, running through her time with Nicholas in her head. She subconsciously sang the song out of habit, finding comfort in the words and rhythm. She placed her hands on the top of the steering wheel and rested her head on top of them. It wasn't like she had been out with many guys in her life, but that was one of the most intense, passionate, and strangely comforting dates of her life. She shook her head as she replayed it again.
• Holy shit! That’s all she could really think about her evening. About Nicholas’s unexpected pursuit. The devil on her shoulder reiterated to her that this was all her fault. That if she'd acted like the ‘normal’ her, she would've never been a willing victim to his deft hands in a backstage alcove. She would've never been in the position to tell him ‘thanks but no thanks,’ spurring on this whole chase—this whole challenge—a welcome change in his world of overly eager, willing women.
• She screamed out, startled by the knock on her car window. She was so deep in thought she never saw Haddie approach her car. Her heartbeat returned to normal as she opened the door to her friend.