Hunt Me! (I Crave The Chase) - Page 166

And then Mutt was going to show up?—

And it was going to be…yeah.

It was going to be real fucking good.

I crossed the street to Avery’s shop and climbed the steps to his apartment above it, feeling giddy and nervous—but excited all the same. He’d given me a key and told me to make myself at home. I could’ve gone home to get ready, but I figured this was easier.

I…miscalculated.

Because when I pushed into Avery’s apartment I was immediately assaulted with the most terrifying mess I had ever encountered. If I’d thought his office was bad, this was—no. Nope. Shit. But I was running out of time, so I braved it anyway.

A black cat skittered across the floor, leaping toward the door the second I stepped through it. I slammed it shut quickly, because today was not the fucking day to end up hunting one of his familiars down because they were escape artists.

“No way,” I wagged a finger at her. “Nice try.”

And then Gregory—the serial shitter—struck again.

Except his victim was me this time.

Karma…is a bitch.

I barely had time to clean myself up and get into my clothes. The bird shit had been a nightmare I had not been prepared for. I vowed to myself to never enter Avery’s apartment again—not even if I was fucking dying. I’d rather choke on my own lung juice than trip over another pile of books and fall face first into week-old pasta take-out.

Again.

Freshly showered—at least Avery had better water pressure than I did—and dressed in a spiffy black t-shirt, my nicest blue jeans, and red Converse, I scurried down the steps and across the street to Blair’s restaurant.

Blair opened the door for me and the second I saw him, I burst out laughing.

“Shut up.”

“Fuck—”

“You did this.”

“Oh my god.” I bent over, snorting out my laughter as I stared at his spiffy little chef outfit.

“I hate you.” Blair shoved at my shoulder and I shoved back—heart light for the first time in…forever.

“This is my new favorite look on you,” I told him, plucking at his chef hat with a giggle.

“Fuck you so very much.” Blair flipped me off. With both hands. Then stomped off into the kitchen.

Ten seconds later, Richard popped his head out of the back—wearing an identical chef outfit, his eyes dancing. “Ready?” he asked, because he was a sweetheart.

“So fucking ready.”

“Me too.” Collin slid out of the bathroom, tugging on his little bow tie, his grin wicked. He had on a pink collared shirt, a teal vest, and a white apron.

My evil plan had all come together swimmingly.

Not that it was very evil to impress the man you love—but still.

“Okay,” I sucked in a breath, standing up taller. For a second…I regretted my life choices. Because I wasn’t sure if this was too cheesy—or weird—or like…obscure. I wasn’t sure if Mutt would get it.

I shouldn’t have worried.

Mutt arrived right on time, appearing at the front door with a polite knock. I hadn’t expected the knock—usually he just kinda…invaded spaces. But today I guess he was on his best behavior. It was glass so I could see him through it.