“Maybe I’m just a little pissed off that all it took was your dumb dimples to make me forget all the lessons I learned from Griffin. No, I’m a lot pissed off about that. And I just realized that I’m not even mad at you. I’m mad at me.”
Nick was quiet for a long beat.
“Damn, Thorn. You really know how to hit a guy below the towel.”
“I’m not apologizing for my feelings.”
“Do you want a glass of wine?”
She opened her mouth to yell at him, then closed it. “Actually, yes. I do want a glass of wine,” she said stiffly.
“Come on, baby. I’m pouring.”
He pulled on a pair of sweatpants, and they tiptoed into the hallway. They realized caution was unnecessary as the steady thump from the guest room on the opposite end of the floor was punctuated by Sesame’s wail. “Oh, Tommy! Yes! Yes!”
“Guess we’ll be burning those sheets,” Nick said, taking Riley’s hand and leading her down the stairs.
In the kitchen, he made her stomach do a mini loop de loop when he picked her up and set her down on the counter.
He grabbed a bottle of Sesame’s wine and then looked blankly at the cabinets.
“Corkscrew is in the drawer next to the utensils. Wine glasses are in there,” Riley said, pointing to the cabinet above the clipboard lists.
Nick followed her directions, producing mismatched glasses and opening the bottle.
“You know where the glasses are.” He poured the wine and slid her a glass.
“Duh,” she said.
“You know how many outlets are in this room. You’re turning this mausoleum into a home with shit that I didn’t help you pick out. You bought Halloween candy and crop tops. You mowed the lawn. I assume you’re also the reason I’ve had clean underwear for the past few weeks and that Burt hasn’t tried to eat me for dinner.”
“What are you getting at?” she asked wearily. The wine was good. Like, really good. Like, rich-person-who-knew-wine good.
“I’m getting at I’m sorry I shoved my head up my own ass and left you to deal with all of this by yourself.”
Riley looked down at her glass.
“And I’m more than sorry that I made you feel anything like that assclown Gentry did. I never want to do that again. Tell me how I can do better.”
She shook her head. “Oh no. I’m not falling for that. I was in the room the last time someone criticized you, and it didnotgo well for any of us. And why are you making so much eye contact with me?”
Nick shrugged and leaned against the counter opposite her, still maintaining a scary visual connection. “This feels like a normal amount of eye contact to me.”
“Does it?”
“I’m sorry I made you feel like you had to walk on eggshells. And I’m sorry I didn’t say anything when I noticed it.”
“You noticed?”
“Thorn, my office looks like an entire fraternity spent spring break in it and someone got murdered. You never once called me out on it.”
“I knew finding Sesame was important to you.” She stared at her wine.
“Do you know that you’re more important to me?” he asked, sounding very serious.
She shrugged. “I mean, I guess?”
“I really put you through the wringer, didn’t I?” Nick asked.
