“What’s with you, bro?” Alex asked.
My face flushed as I crossed the finish line. “I…reached for the popcorn, was too busy eating. Sorry.”
When I glanced at Ava, she wore an expression on her face that told me she didn’t believe that story. I just hoped Nattie didn’t know I had been staring at her while I daydreamed about our perfect life.
Next to me, she set her controller down and stretched. She yawned as she shifted in her seat. “Well, I think I will head off to bed. All that racing made me really tired.”
My heart sank as she rose. I didn’t want her to go, but I couldn’t very well start an IV of caffeine to keep her awake.
“Aw, yeah, you’re probably exhausted.” I stood with her. “Let me walk you up.”
“That would be lovely. Thanks.” She smiled up at me, slicking a lock of hair behind her ear.
I awkwardly offered her my arm, all too aware of the fact that Ava and Alex’s eyes were on me. To my surprise, she accepted it like we’d done it a thousand times.
We skirted past my housemates and into the foyer. “So, I think Ava put you in a room with a view.”
“Oh, that was nice of her. And so kind of you to bring me here. Thank you.”
“Oh, yeah, of course. Like I said, I just…want to help.” I cleared my throat as we reached the top of the stairs. I wanted to say so much more, but I didn’t want to scare her. I wanted to tell her that I still felt that connection, that the moments we’d shared earlier when I’d helped her with the game or when she’d beat me afterward had been some of the most special moments I’d ever experienced.
In every other instance, any connection I’d felt had been one-sided, but this felt entirely different. Every time I thought I’d get told off or that she’d pull away, she didn’t.
I couldn’t believe this was happening. I fully expected to wake up, probably in my dad’s house, and have all of this ripped away. Maybe I was having some sort of crazy delusion from the pain pills I’d been prescribed after my near-death experience.
We arrived at her door, and I pushed it open, my gaze falling to her to gauge her reaction as she stepped inside. My mind raced with ways to impress her.
Perhaps I could take a page from my father’s book: borrow his jet, fly her to Paris, and take her to dinner before a stroll along the Seine. That would win her over, right?
Alex had also proposed this date to win Ava over. It was like the go-to date for billionaires and their ladies. I couldn’t go wrong.
My heart went into overdrive as I followed her a few steps into the room. She twisted to face me. “Well, I will sleep far better here.”
“Yes,” I said, crossing my arms to stop myself from reaching for her. “And I’ll be sure Alex has all the security system measures in place. Cameras, alarms, the works.”
She offered me a soft smile, her features sweet in the dim bedroom lighting. “Thank you, Kyle. You have been…so helpful.”
Helpful. That wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear, but it was a start. How in the world had my dad managed to woo so many women and then win the lovely Julia Stanton to his side?
It must be the money. Well, I’d work that to my advantage, too. Then I’d go from helpful to hot.
“Yeah, of course,” I said with a bob of my head. “If you need anything, I’m around the corner and down the hall. Don’t hesitate to wake me up anytime.”
Did that sound creepy? I wished I would have had time to run things past Ava before I talked to Nattie. She’d be able to tell if I was being stalker-like.
“I will do my best to let you sleep,” she answered.
Ouch. There was the brush-off I was used to. “Right,” I said, my disappointment showing in the rawness of my voice. “Well, I’ll just let you settle in.”
I had hoped when I’d walked her up that this would be one of those moments where we connected, and I kissed her. It didn’t matter that I’d just met her. I wanted my life to be one of those romantic comedies where through forced proximity, we fell in love in record time.
But this would probably turn out the same way as all my relationships: with a huge letdown and a broken heart that I couldn’t get over.
With a lick of my lips, I bobbed my head, my gaze stuck on the pattern of the area rug under me. I didn’t want her to see the disappointment shining in my eyes.
Before I could force myself to turn around and walk away, Nattie stepped closer to me. Her warm fingers pressed against my cheeks, then her lips brushed mine.
My heart stopped for a second, and I froze. My muscles tensed, completely shocked. Was I hallucinating?
