Edge (Gentry Boys #7) Read Online Free Page B

anywhere; she bounced.  Petite and pretty, with glossy black hair inherited from her Chinese American mother, Emily was also smart and easygoing, friendly without being intrusive.  She was the perfect roommate. 
    “Hey Rozzie.”
    “Hey Emmie.” 
    “You still taking me out tonight?”
    “Of course.”
    “Fabulous.”  Emily yawned.  “Let me just repackage this mess and I’ll be ready.” 
    “No rush.  Where do you want to go?”
    Emily had already started bouncing down the hall to her own room. She bounced back to my doorway, words spilling out of her mouth in a happy jumble.   “Dinner first because I’m so hungry I could eat concrete.  Then I was thinking we could case Maloney’s in search of desperate suits looking for company but a better offer has come through.  Five minutes ago my friend Tina texted about a party.” 
    “A party?”  I selected a lime green sundress and then rejected it just as quickly, remembering the last time I wore it.  Some creep with long sideburns had accosted me and slurred that I looked like a slutty leprechaun.  When he got too close and asked if he could touch my pot of gold I threw a drink on his shirt.  “Em, we don’t really do parties anymore.  College is over.” 
    She shook her head.  “I don’t mean a keg stand kind of crowd. Tina, who used to work in the insurance office across the hall from the bank before she got fired for stealing pens started hooking up with this guy who lives in a historic downtown hotel that’s been converted to apartments or something.” 
    “And that’s where this party is?”
    “Yes.  Well, sort of.  That building is next to an old restaurant that’s privately owned by a wealthy ASU alumnus who invented this fancy kind of furniture polish.  His son has plans to renovate the place but right now it’s big and empty and so he’s throwing a party in honor of spring break.” 
    I made a face, picturing roving packs of wobbly coeds.  “Spring break?   I thought you said this wasn’t a kegger with kids.  ” 
    Emily rolled her eyes.  “Lighten up, Roslyn.  You’re not old.  You’re only twenty-three. It’s not like your college days happened two decades ago. Look, if it’s lame we’ll move on, okay?  Ooh, you should wear that red dress. No, the other one. Makes your boobs look like enormous ripe apples.” 
    I did end up wearing the red dress, although I covered much of the boob effect with a short sleeve cardigan and ignored Emily when she chastised me.
    Emily was bolder.  She wore a skin-hugging short black dress and sharp heels that added three inches to her height.  I was glad that her exuberance seemed genuine.  She’d suffered a rough couple of months.  When I reconnected with her after arriving back in town last year she’d been having an intense affair with a former coworker.  Although she’d always laughed about the casual nature of the relationship, she’d been devastated when he abruptly broke things off right after the holidays and moved to Los Angeles.  I was glad to see her eager to get out and have a good time.  Good times had been in short supply around here for months. 
    We lingered over dinner for two hours, laughing and just enjoying the freedom of the night.  I couldn’t remember the last time I had laughed so much.  Lately life had been about work, books, volunteering, and visiting my father in his empty, impeccable Scottsdale mini mansion. 
    I was remembering what it felt like now; to shake my hair loose and let go just a little.  I even returned a few of the appreciative smiles that came my way from men who watched us from the bar. 
    Emily argued with me when I insisted on paying but tonight had been my idea, my treat, so I wouldn’t hear of it. 
    “I’ll get you back,” she giggled, clutching my arm as we walked to the parking garage.  “Come Sunday morning you can expect to be tempted by a dozen jelly donuts from Bosa.” 
    “God, that would be