“It’s only a day,” she said.
“Barely that.”
“And there are other people around.”
“You,” he said. “You’re the only one I plan on talking to.”
“Come on,” she said. “You can’t do that and you know it. You’re not going to be glued to my side the whole time, are you? I’m going to have to go to the bathroom at some point.”
“I’ll give you some breathing room,” he said. “But I don’t want you to be overwhelmed either. You’re doing me a huge favor and I’m not willing to run the risk of you hating me when this is over.”
She squinted at his charming smile. She’d bet he got that from his father, but wouldn’t say that. No reason to cause a fight.
“I doubt that could happen,” she said.
“Don’t place money on a bet you don’t know the odds of.”
She stood up. “You’re right. Don’t worry about me. I’m used to mingling with people.”
“And being quietly correct and proper. You’ll know all the right things to say and do.”
She frowned. “You’re making me sound boring.”
“My family will think that, but I know differently. Or are you going to tell me you’ll act there like you do around me? Me, I’m positive you’re going to treat this just like your job.”
She sighed. It had been her plan.
When in crowds of unfamiliar faces, she fell back on her quiet, calm demeanor.
It’d always benefited her before and got her through the time without ruffling feathers or leaving an impact.
That was her.
The woman who blended into the crowd as a number rather than a figure of strength.
Nothing wrong with that in her eyes.
Not everyone had to be center stage.
“If it gets us through the day, what’s the harm? I’m going to get ready for bed. Today has been tiring and it sounds as if we’ll both need our strength for tomorrow.”
And the sooner they got in bed the better.
She was positive she’d be staring at the ceiling most of the night.
“Sure,” he said. “You can go first.”
She grabbed her small toiletry bag from her suitcase, a T-shirt and shorts. She didn’t sleep in fancy pajamas. Not even shorts. Just a T-shirt but tonight she’d have bottoms on and hoped the extra layer didn’t get tangled up and give her another reason to be uncomfortable.
After she brushed her teeth and cleaned her face, she changed and returned to the room.
Arik had the TV on, and his long legs stretched out in front of him.
“It’s all yours,” she said.
Natalie felt his eyes on her as she went back to her suitcase to put her dirty clothes in. The door shut to the bathroom without her watching.
She let out a long breath she hadn’t been aware she was holding, then pulled the comforter back and slid her legs inside of it.
