* * *
Curiosity burns through me as we take the mattress upstairs, but I’m not sure how to ask.Sterling’s a private person.Until today, I’ve never imagined having a conversation with him, and all morning, he’s been loose and talkative.
It’s completely destroying any chance I have of getting over him.
“You were right,” I say.“Making the bed was a great idea.”
Sterling pushes my mattress onto the frame with his thigh, sheets and all.It slides into place perfectly, and I have to count to five while my brain shorts out at the inherent power he’s casually throwing around.Christ.
I want to wrap myself around him like a vine.
“Good.Rest is important.”He steps closer, sliding his hands into his pockets.
God, hisarms.I’m going out of my mind.
“I wouldn’t be able to leave without knowing you’re satisfied.”
Fuck me.
“I’m going to get some water.Would you like some?”
He nods and follows me into the kitchen.Half the boxes sit open on the counter, waiting for me to decide where everything will go.If only it was that easy to know what to do with Sterling.
Okay, I know what I want to do, but I need a few answers first.I fill a glass and turn to him.“Lucky seems nice.”
Sterling takes the water and gulps it back quickly.He places it on the counter with a dull thud, raising a hand to rough his hair up.
At work, it’s shaped and styled.It fits in with everything else about him—the clean shave, the fitted suits.He cares for the details.Which is why I’m so taken by the way his fringe is fighting gravity right now, sticking out of place from the careful style, like a meerkat on recon.
It makes him human.Touchable.
“You don’t have to tell me; it’s none of my business.”
Sterling rubs his jaw, as though it’s absorbed all the stress from today.Probably longer.I’m not good at patience—never have been.Act first, think later.It’s mostly worked out for me.But that’s not going to work here.
So, I wait.
He drops his hand.“We went to university together, in Manchester.Lachlan was the only person who wouldn’t let how big of an asshole I was stop us from being friends.But I sabotaged it, and we haven’t spoken since.”
“From the way he spoke to you, I wondered if he was your ex.”
“He is.”
Oh.
“You can ask,” he adds.
And it doesn’t surprise me that he knows me so well.Sterling Ross is the smartest man in every room.
“It’s just that … you never seem to date, so I wondered if maybe you were …”
“Pining?”
God, Ma would be so disappointed in me for asking, but I saw the way he looked at Lucky, and it’s so painfully obvious that Lucky misses him too.How could anyone see that and not want to nudge a little bit?
I can’t help but want to help.It’s one of my best traits.
“Are you?”
