He was everything I didn't know I needed -
and everything I should have stayed away from.
When Mia Thorpe leaves her quiet hometown for London, she's craving freedom, independence, and a fresh start. What she doesn't expect is Grayson Cooper-a dange...
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Clothes are sprawled haphazardly across my bedroom floor, most of them having been dragged from boxes and discarded almost as quickly as I pulled them out. After far too much deliberation, I eventually settle on a navy-blue bodycon dress with cream heels and a small clutch bag, deciding it'll have to do considering I hadn't exactly planned on spending my first night in London getting drunk in what, Hailey claims is, one of London's biggest nightclubs.
Though I'd be lying if I said the mess wasn't bothering me—I've been here for less than a day—no, scrap that, not even a few hours—and already my bedroom looks as though somebody has burgled it. Nevertheless, I force myself to ignore the clothes covering the floor and promise myself that I'll unpack everything tomorrow.
Once I've finished digging through the chaos for everything I need, I follow Hailey into her room, where she immediately starts rummaging through her wardrobe with enough determination to suggest that the perfect dress is hiding somewhere at the back of her endless supply of clothing.
Her bedroom couldn't be more different to mine. The baby-pink walls are covered with posters, most of them featuring either old-school boybands or men wearing considerably fewer clothes than necessary, while discarded outfits litter the carpet and endless empty spirit bottles line the top of her wardrobe like proud trophies on display. Makeup is scattered across her dresser amongst bottles of perfume, jewellery, and hair products, and I can't help smiling because, despite moving three hours away, Hailey has somehow managed to recreate almost exactly the same bedroom she had back home.
"What about these?" she asks, emerging from the wardrobe with a pair of shiny black stilettos dangling from her fingers. "Will they go?"
I sit on the edge of her bed and look between the shoes and the little black dress she's already laid across her crumpled duvet. I'm fairly certain she knows perfectly well that they match and just wants confirmation, but I nod anyway.
"Definitely."
Her smile widens. "Okay, great. I'm going to the shop because pre-drinking is absolutely essential, and the house is run dry right now. Any preference?"
I shrug, never having been one to be too knowledgeable in alcohol options. "Vodka. Or gin?"
Briefly, I wonder if my feelings about tonight have changed. There's a small energy bubbling away in my stomach, and I'm starting to feel slightly more enthusiastic about the prospect of this night out than I did only twenty minutes ago. Only then was I arguing that I needed an early night, yet somehow Hailey's excitement has already started rubbing off on me.
"Yes!" She claps her hands together. "I'll see what's on offer."
"Just nothing that'll kill us, please," I say wryly.
"No promises, babe."
She wiggles her eyebrows before disappearing downstairs, and a few seconds later the front door closes behind her, leaving the house strangely quiet.
