“You picked up on that, huh?”
I nod. “All my life, I’ve been around women. My sisters, my cousins, all my friends. I’m comfortable around women I’m friends with. I know how to do that. But…” I pause, twisting my hands around the fringe on a nearby throw pillow, needing a moment to pull my thoughts together. “The real me, the one behind the public persona, is…not great around women I want to bemorethan friends with. As you can clearly tell by the predicament we’re in.”
She offers me a weak smile, giving me a moment to recenter.
“Then I started getting the texts telling me to stay away from you. I am so secretive about so much of my life, I don’t know how anyone could have figured that out. I never thought it had anything to do with you, just some crazed fan or something. As the texts got more frequent, I started to worry maybe you were being watched too.” Her face goes pale as she stiffens in her seat. “And then I was going to tell you, but after the whole incident with Chadd and you suggesting we fake date, I thought it was a great way to get to know you better and actually be around tokeep you safe.” I gasp for breath. “Wow, this sounds bad. I sound ridiculous.”
She sits on the couch, staring at the TV despite the screen being black as night. Probably because my life is basically a train wreck of a reality show, and she’s trying to figure out how the hell she ended up with a starring role.
God, I fucked this up so bad.Another knot forms in my stomach, this one twisting my insides like a towel being rung out in the sink. She’s not saying anything. She’s not looking at me. She’s essentially in a catatonic state. AndIput her in it.Fuck.
“I’m so sorry, Kennedy. I never meant for this to get so out of hand. I didn’t mean to keep all this from you. I’ll just…I’ll go,” I say as I stand up and walk toward the door. The doorknob is cold in my palm as the heaviness in the air presses down on me.
“What are you sorry for?”
I freeze, glancing over my shoulder. She’s still staring straight ahead, not moving a muscle. If she’d spoken any quieter, I would’ve thought I imagined it. Her words hit me in the chest like a slapshot I didn’t see coming, my heart pounding so loudly I hear it in my ears.
“What?” I turn around, my head refusing to believe what my heart is hoping for.
She stands and walks toward me. Every step is a choice. Every inch closer, making my heart explode in my chest.What is she doing?
“I said…what are you sorry for? Are you sorry for being attracted to me?”
I swallow hard. “I…umm…yes? Or…no? I…I don’t know what you want me to say.” I point behind me. “Do you want me to leave?”
She takes another step. “If I want you to leave, I’ll ask you to leave. What I trulywantis for you to give me some answers. I knew there was something more to you, but I couldn’t put myfinger on it. So, I’m going to ask you some very simple questions, and you’re going to answer me,” she says with a firmness that makes my knees weak as she takes yet another step. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I whisper, my voice cracking in fear and excitement.
“Did you send me all these gifts to try and impress me?”
“Yes.”
“Did you do something to help Beverly with that restaurant?”
“Yes. I…”God, she’s going to hate me for this.“Her husband passed away and left her in a lot of debt with the diner, so…I paid it off.” I wince, convinced she’s going to kick me out. But she doesn’t. She looks almost…grateful as she continues her line of interrogation.
“Were you the one bringing me a coffee that suddenly switched to almond milk recently?”
“Shit,” I say, realizing she has me figured out. “Yes.”
Her eyes ice over. “Did you have anything to do with that first photo to try to trick me into fake dating you?”
“No! Kennedy, I swear to all things hockey, I would never do that.”
“Good.” She smirks, taking another step and stopping inches from my face, her intoxicating vanilla smell surrounding me. I suck in a sharp breath. Her scent fills this entire apartment, but now that she’s standing so close, my chest tightens, and everything fades away.
“Are you attracted to me?”
I look at the floor, but she grabs my chin, tipping it toward her gaze. “Eyes on me, pretty-boy. Answer my question.” She leans in closer as I stare deep into her gaze. “Are. You. Attracted. To. Me?”
“Yes.” The word barely escapes as a whisper.
“Did you enjoy our kiss?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want me to kiss you again?”
