He snorts. “No, but you know what I mean. She’s open, and friendly, and trusting. But she’s been burned too many times, and she’ll be the first one to tell you how she ended up here at Lakeview.”
“Got a little too friendly with a statue?” Of course I heard about it. Saw the pictures and videos. It was all over social media.
“Right. You got it. And Lucy, you know Dev. She started dating him last year, and it turned into this big thing. He’s not good enough for my father, stepmother. One of the best guys I know. What a bunch of bullshit. But that’s the way it is. Cece will move past it. She’s almost done school. The only reason she ever goes home now is so I don’t have to struggle through the experience alone, but after graduation, who knows? She’ll move on. It’s not so easy for me, though.”
I mull over everything he said. He revealed a lot about his family, but very little about himself. He’s very guarded. And I get it. He has to be. Growing up under the scrutiny of the entire Internet like that. But I wish he would. I want to understand him better.
“And…”
The turn signal clicks on, and he swings into the driveway of a beautiful house. “We’re here. Home sweet home.”
It’s lovely. Pristine. Just like his car. Precisely trimmed ornamental hedges squat in front of the large front porch. A wooden swing sways slightly in the breeze. Idyllic. Way nicer than any other college house I’ve ever seen. But it suits him.
I’m still taking it all in when my door swings open and he holds out a hand. I stare at it, unclip my seat belt, and swing my legs around to the side to slip out.
He snags my elbow as I’m sliding down when I ignore the offered hand.
“This isn’t the 1800s. I don’t need help to get out of a vehicle.”
“I know. But I’d hate to get tangled up in a lawsuit if you slipped and fell getting out of my car.”
There’s not a hint of humor on his face. Not even a slight twitch of the lips. “Did that actually happen to you?”
And then I know I’ve been had because his face cracks into a grin. “No. I was being a gentleman. Never met one?”
“You dick.”
He grabs my other arm before my fist lands. “So you’ve told me. Come on. I’m starving, and I’m sure Bluebeard is dying to see you.”
Bluebeard. How could I forget the entire reason I came home with him? It is the entire reason, right? Better not to analyze that any deeper. That heady electricity that zips through me at his touch? It means nothing. Just lust. Nothing more. He is a good-looking guy, and I am only human. I can admire a man without giving in to the attraction.
Chapter 19
Fajitas & Feelings
Beau
Maybeshewasoffendedby my chivalry. Or my jokes. Either way, I can’t seem to stop trying to make her like me. And she has a way of getting me to open up that most people don’t. My guard thins when she’s around. Sure, I’m great at smiling and getting to know people. It’s been drilled into me since I was a kid. But usually, I’m the one loosening people’s lips and excavating for information. Not the other way around. This vulnerability is unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
The warmth of her arm under mine lingers as I struggle with the lock. I was reluctant to release my grip on her. The key is still sliding around the elusive hole when the door rips open, and I stumble forward into… “JJ! What the fuck!”
“You were taking too long to get in. I thought I’d give you a hand, Captain.” He’s bouncing on his toes, peering over my shoulder. “Luna Wilder! You brought Luna home? Come in.”
He tries to jostle past me to accost Wilder, and I shove him away. “Give the lady some space.”
“Right. Sorry.” His face falls, and he backs away, but I refuse to feel guilty. Or at least not too guilty. He needs to learn a little respect for personal space. It may be an unfamiliar concept to him, but some people don’t like strangers all up in their faces.
My sister is not one of those people. She flies past JJ, hurling herself at me. “Bo Bo!” She turns toward Luna, and I can tell she’s dying to give her a hug, but she has a little more restraint than JJ. “We made fajitas.”
Now that she mentions it, the house is infused with that distinctive aroma of warm spices, and my stomach twists with a pang. I snagged some lunch during our shoot, but it wasn’t enough to keep me filled up for long.
Something bright snags my attention, and I turn to check out the colorful painting gracing the greige walls in the hallway. I’ve been finding new random additions to the house since I got back from the holiday break. My sister claims she’s trying to make the space more homey now that she’s spending fifty percent of her time here. I’ve tried calling her out, but she generally tells me to stuff it. My minimalist aesthetic is apparently a little too calming for her chaotic vibes. Sometimes I wonder how it’s possible that we’re related. But the eyes betray our connection.
My hand strays back, fingers stretching out before I realize what I’m doing, but I yank it back, hoping Wilder didn’t notice the unconscious gesture.
“Clear off.” I wave at everyone crowding the doorway. “Let us get in.” There’s more irritation in my voice than I intended. I need to relax. Not my strong suit. I search the room for the newest member of our household as my housemates back off. Cece bounces back to the kitchen to finish cooking dinner. And JJ ducks down in a quick bow before stepping away. What a weirdo. It’s like he’s made it his mission to embrace the goalie stereotype.
I turn back to Luna. Her face doesn’t show any of the trepidation I was expecting at that unruly welcome. Instead, she looks amused. Lips pressed together to keep the laugh in, sparkling eyes locked on me. I’m pretty sure I’m the target of her entertainment. Of course.
