True.But she was making it impossible not to. And of course, that hint of a smile guaranteed I'd be saying it again.But not yet.I moved closer. "Would you be happier if I got a coat?"
"Maybe a little. I mean…it's not exactly warm out here."
I flicked my head toward the hotel. "Come on. I'll grab you one."
"But not just for me, right? I mean…youaregonna grab one for you, too."
Her concern was adorable, and I just had to smile. "Sure, if it makes you happy."
"But it's not aboutme," she protested. "It's about you."
"Fine," I laughed. "If it makesmehappy, I'll grab one."
She dropped her arms. "Are you making fun of me?"
"Yep."
She let out a scoff. "Well, Iguessthat's better than a nope."
"Lambchop,anythingbeats a nope."
Finally, she laughed. "Oh, shut up." But then she paused and looked up toward ZZ's balcony. She squinted, seeing what I'd seen five minutes ago. The balcony was empty, leaving just the two of us alone in the night.
Together, we slipped in through the hotel's side door – the same one I'd used to duck outside without ZZ realizing we were in the same hotel.
Inside, an elevator was conveniently waiting. After I pressed the button for the fourth floor, Tessa turned to me and said, "See? Youdidinvite me up."
"Yeah. For a minute." I winked. "Which isn't nearly long enough." When her cheeks flushed, I couldn't resist teasing, "Oh, so you can dish it out, but you can't take it."
"I can take it just fine," she said, giving me a wink right back. "But I guessyou'llnever know."
Fantastic.Like resisting her wasn't hard enough already.
Man, I knew I liked this girl.
41
Tackling Optional
Tessa
"So?" Ryder said. "This question of yours…are you gonna ask it?" He said it with a smile, but it still packed a wallop as we walked along the moonlit street.
Around us, everything was still and quiet except for the sounds of our footsteps and the beating of my heart. And even though I should've felt toasty warm in the thick black hoodie that he'd pulled from his hotel closet, a tiny shiver skittered down my spine.
My question – why, exactly, Ryder was here – was something I should've asked from the get-go. But then, like an idiot, I'd gone and kissed him, which made it harder to ask than it should.
I confessed, "I should've asked you in the coffee shop."
Technically, I could've asked him just now in his hotel suite, except we hadn't stayed more than thirty seconds – just enough time for him to grab the hoodie for me and a light windbreaker for himself.
He hadn't even zipped it, which naturally made me wonder if he was wearing it to makemehappy instead of himself.But that was ridiculous, right?
Walking beside me, he asked, "You mean today in the coffee shop?"
I shook my head. "No. On that first day – when you came in with the duffel dude."
"Griff."
