“You’re welcome. You were a breeze to work with. Now, is there anything else I can do for you two handsome men?”
“I think we’re good,” Xander replied. “But next time I need promo shots, I’ll be sure to call you.”
“You’d better.” She kissed us both on each cheek again. “Good luck, Jae. Modelling is a tough business, but I think you’ve got what it takes to make it.”
Her words made my chest swell. I wanted it. I needed it. I could do it. I just had to believe in myself.
* * *
There was so much I wanted to say to Xander, but I hadn’t been able to find the words while we were on the tube. When we got into his apartment, I turned to him, psyched up to let the words rip.
“I need to do a live stream,” he said. “I hope you don’t mind.”
My eyebrows lifted. A live stream. In the late afternoon. Holy fuck. He was going to do a True Fans stream. I swayed. I was supposed to be telling him something, but the words were gone.
Xander caught my elbow, steadying me. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” I forced a smile to my lips. “Just tired from the excitement of today.”
“I bet you are. Why don’t you relax, and I’ll make us some dinner when I’m done with my stream?”
“I can cook. I need to say thank you somehow.”
“You don’t.”
I put my hands on my hips. “I do. What time will you be done?”
He shrugged. “I normally spend half an hour to an hour streaming, and then I’ll shower.”
“Okay.” I pushed him playfully. His chest muscles were as solid as a brick wall. “Off you go to your hot and sweaty stream.” My mouth formed anOshape as I realised what I’d said.
Xander laughed. “Working out does tend to be hot and sweaty.”
Yes, yes, it did. I stayed still until he’d disappeared into his studio. I gripped the handrail, using it for support as I ascended the stairs on wobbly legs. Xander was going to be working out while naked beneath me. Well, not beneath me. On the floor below me. I’d have liked him to work out beneath me, though. I clapped my hand to my mouth. What was going on in my head?
When I flopped onto the sofa, my hand grazed the corner of my laptop. I bit my lip. I could sign into my True Fans account and watch. It’s not like I hadn’t watched Xander’s streams before. Except I hadn’t been in his apartment, staying with him. I covered my face with my hands. I couldn’t watch him.
Music drifted up from below. It was energetic with a heavy beat. I leant my head against the top of the sofa and closed my eyes. It wasn’t hard to picture Xander doing his warmup while naked. My chest wrenched as I did, and I jerked my eyes open. I couldn’t. I raked my teeth over my lower lip. I wanted to imagine him. Watch him. On my screen. In person. Holy hell, I was too hot.
I fanned myself, jumped up, and went to the kitchen to look at what Xander had in. Ridiculously, I decided I had to make him dakgangjeong chicken, following Mum’s recipe, for his thank-you meal. Of course, he didn’t have most of the ingredients I’d need, so I had to go out. I grabbed my jacket and the spare key he’d given me and fled the apartment. I had no clue where I was going. I’d need to go to a speciality supermarket for some of the ingredients. Luckily, I had my phone, and Google was my friend. I found a supermarket that would hopefully do, located the nearest tube station to it, and set off on my mini mission.
I got lost, but eventually, I was on my way home with everything I needed. I walked in the front door just as Xander came out of his bedroom. His hair was still slightly damp. Maybe his workout had taken longer than he’d expected, or perhaps he’d done a different kind of workout afterwards. I needed to scrub my thoughts out with soap, or I’d spontaneously combust where I was standing.
He stared at the bulging paper bag I was holding. “You went out?”
“I needed to get supplies.” I smiled sweetly. “I wanted to cook you something special. Good stream?” My voice strangled on the last two words.
“Yeah, it was fun. I had a decent amount of viewers.”
“Wonderful.” I lifted the bag. “I’d better start cooking.”
“Can I help?”
Did I want to be in close quarters with Xander while things were getting hot in the kitchen? Probably not, considering where my thoughts kept going.
“Could you dice the chicken while I mix the coating?” My mouth hadn’t got the memo that it wasn’t a good idea.
“Sure.” Xander took the bag and jogged up the stairs.
