She greets us both with a wide smile and tells Sawyer the party planners have everything under control and she has her cell phone if he needs anything, as always. He reminds her the office is closed until January third.

She’s so pretty, her blonde hair pulled back low on her neck, blue eyes huge on her face, framed by thick lashes and eyebrows with a perfect arch. She’s just shy, I decide, renewing the oath I’ve made to myself to get her under Gabe.

“Sandra, I forgot my lipstick back at Sawyer’s. Walk with me to get it?” I pose it as a question, but I’m already grabbing her arm and turning her in the direction of the elevators.

“Everly, you put your lipstick in your—”

I whirl on Sawyer, the skirt of my dress twirling as I do, and make a motion with my fingers across my lips and mouth. “Zip it.”

He throws up his hands and mutters something about finding a drink.

I loop my arm in Sandra’s and make off for the apartment.

“Have you seen Gabe yet?” I ask.

“Mr. Laurent? No, he’s not here yet. Did Sawyer need him for something?” she asks, but she brightens when she does and it tells me everything I need to know.

The elevator doors open in the lobby and we walk straight into Chloe, who, thank fuck, has worn what I put out for her before I left the dorm.

“Am I going the wrong way?” She’s adorable when she’s puzzled, her nose scrunched up, her forehead wrinkled. A wisp of hair falls from the arrangement on her head, falling across her eye, and she blows it away with an annoyed puff.

I drag them both back to the apartment and make a show of digging through my makeup bag looking for the lipstick that’s in my pocket while Sandra hovers very awkwardly in the bathroom doorway and Chloe checks out the view.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate that I’m in Mr. Camden’s bedroom,” Sandra remarks, trying to keep her eyes on the floor.

“Relax, we just have normal sex in there,” I tell her, gesturing to the bedroom. “It’s not like we’re making sex tapes or anything.” I stop dead. Oh, holy shit, that’s a good idea though. “Anyway,” I say, drawing out the word, “found my lipstick. I guess we should head back to the party.”

Sandra makes a beeline for the bedroom door while I take two steps then stop in front of the walk-in closet and gasp. “Wait!” She stops and looks up questioningly. Chloe doesn’t even blink, used to my dramatics. I dash into the closet and return, holding up a black sequined miniskirt. “You should try this on.”

Sandra starts to respond with an, “Um,” but I’ve already crammed the skirt into her hands and shoved her towards the bathroom.

“Go on,” I tell her, smile wide and reassuring.

“Uh, okay,” she agrees. Her voice is reluctant but she’s eyeing the material curiously.

She slips back out of the bathroom a minute later, still in her suit jacket but wearing the skirt. I’m surprised to see she was hiding some fuck-me heels under those pants. I can work with this.

“Sandra, your legs! I’d kill to have long legs like yours. You have to wear that skirt. I insist.”

“You think?” she questions, walking back into the bathroom to look at her reflection. “I’m taller than you. This is really short on me.”

“Yeah, I know. You’re welcome.” Gabe’s not gonna be able to take his eyes off her. “Now take off your shirt.”

“Excuse me?” Her eyebrows shoot up in question.

“Just the shirt under your jacket. Then put the jacket back on.”

“Um, you want me to go to the party without a shirt?”