Chapter 5: Birthday Games

I wanted Nathan so badly it hurt. If I was going to seduce him, I had to go all in.

It was my birthday—October 15th, the leaves in Central Park just starting to turn gold.

We’d planned a family celebration, but I bailed and went to Marquee in Chelsea alone.

I ordered enough tequila, vodka, and whiskey to start a frat party, pretending to be way drunker than I was.

At 10:01 sharp, Nathan called—always on the dot.

He sounded like he was trying to parent me: "Sophia, why aren’t you home? The cake’s waiting."

I slurred just a little: "Nathan, my friends dragged me out. Sarah and Jessica wouldn’t take no for an answer. I drank way too much... Come get me, please?"

I heard his Aston Martin’s engine through the phone—he was probably already in the garage.

He sighed, resigned: "Send me the address. Wait for me. No more drinks."

I hung up, spinning my phone between my fingers. The smile I tried to hide almost slipped out.