I laugh and shake my head. “No, not just dinner.”
Ella does an excited dance in her chair. “This is so exciting for me. I love Ian. He’s such a great guy. And I love you. I’m so happy the universe put us all together.”
“It’s pretty crazy how that all worked out,” I comment thoughtfully.
I’ve always thought everything happened for a reason. And when I was going through the worst time of my life with my ex and my past life, I started to doubt it, but maybe everything really did need to happen the way it did to bring me to this moment.
The rest of the evening is exactly what I needed. I’m so glad to have Ella and Olive in my life. By the time I left Chicago, all my friends had abandoned me. Not that I blamed them, but having genuine relationships is something I’d been missing for even longer than I’d like to admit.
I’m still smiling as I walk up the stairs of my apartment building after Jack and Ella drop me off. The only thing that would make this night better is if Ian were here with me.
Once I’m in my apartment, I quickly get ready for bed and climb under the covers. I unlock my phone and pull up my texts.
Me: At home and in bed. I had an amazing night, but wish you were here.
Almost immediately, dots appear.
Ian: You have no idea how much I wish I were in bed with you right now.
Arousal has my skin prickling, thinking about what we would be doing if he were in bed with me.
Ian: Go to sleep, beautiful. I would say sweet dreams…but I hope your dreams are dirty as fuck and filled with me. Just like you were last night.
A small whimper leaves my lips, even if I know he can’t hear me.
Me: Well, great. Now I’m horny and not tired at all.
I stare at my phone for a few moments. Disappointment tightens my chest when Ian doesn’t reply. Placing my phone on the nightstand, I roll away to lie on my side. I squeeze my eyes shut, commanding myself to fall asleep until I hear my phone vibrate from the nightstand.
Ian: Come answer your door.
I read the text again, confused.
Answer my door?
A yelp rips from my chest when a loud knock sounds through my apartment. I scramble out of bed and rush to the door. As I whip open the door, Ian is standing outside, his gaze filled with an intense desire that has my lungs seizing for a moment.
He steps inside, and as soon as the door closes behind him, he reaches behind him and locks it. Giving me a smallsmile, he explains, “I was just going to make sure you got home safe.”
I scrunch my nose, still confused about how he’s here. “Were you in the parking lot?”
One shoulder lifts in a shrug. “Jack mentioned he was taking you home. I was going to park until you got inside. You looked gorgeous, by the way.”
I huff a laugh. “Why didn’t you just pick me up?”
He frowns. “I was trying not to be demanding.”
Narrowing my eyes, I stare at him, our conversations from this morning when he demanded I call him if I need a ride, and for me to text when I’m home, coming back to me. Then, a thought occurs to me that flushes my cheeks with embarrassment.
What if he didn’t want Jack to know about us?
Since I’m on a roll of being mostly honest, I admit, “I told Ella and Olive about us.”
Ian’s tongue drags across his bottom lip. “Let’s go to bed.”
My insecurities don’t go away, but I push them aside as I lead him back to my bedroom. I don’t want to waste a night with him after just getting him back in my life. I hope one day he’ll be proud to be with me, even after everything I did to him.
20
