60. Chapter Sixty

Chapter Sixty

Anna

M y phone tapping against my thigh is the only noise in my otherwise dead silent office. It makes my mouth dry and my heart pound.

I miss all of them.

Leo has called me nearly every day since I left As Above, claiming he's just checking in. Making sure I've settled. Wondering if I'd ever come back. Asking what it would take to bring me back.

Sighing, I open the invite that's plagued me for the last several hours.

I'm going to decline.

It's the only logical answer.

Right ?

Thumb hovering over the button to send it back, I jump clear out of my skin and let loose a scream when the device rings against my palm.

"Holy smokes, get it together, Anna."

I don't even get a chance to speak when I slide over the answer button, Aria's voice filling my little speaker as soon as the line connects.

"You have to come! Oh, my god, it'll be so much fun if you come, too."

"Hello Aria. It's nice to talk to you, too."

The woman in my ear snorts, another voice rising in the background. "Cut the shit and tell us yes, lady."

"Hello to you, too, Cedar."

"It's been too long," Aria drones out, the words on the verge of a whine that makes my heart fill. "We're in town and totally would rather crash with you. Send me your address and we'll make it a girls' night."

I blink and take a look around my small apartment. "Is that a thing? An actual slumber party?"

"Yes, it's totally a thing. As long as you're cool with it."

"Yes, okay."

The squeals on the other end of the line make me jerk the phone away from my head, but I smile nonetheless.

"C will bring the booze and the makeup. I'll bring the ice cream and the clothes!"

"O-okay." My heart swells inside my chest. "Okay. I'll text you my address."

When Aria finally disconnects the call sometime later, I sit in my office and just stare.

I'm not sure when the homesickness settled in, but now that these women are voluntarily coming to spend their time with me, I feel its effects waning.

Eventually, it won't feel like this.

Right?