“We won’t.” Cat gives me a reassuring smile. “It sounds like there isn’t much to tell, anyway.”
I exhale. “No, there isn’t.”
“We’ll see,” Geoff says with a wink.
I look back just as Alex shoves her phone into her bag. Then she heads over to us, her expression twisted with worry.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“No.” She massages her temples and my stomach dips. I step closer, touching her arm.
“What is it? What happened?”
“That was my editor. Remember how I was glad she could fit me in a few weeks after the wedding? Well, I got that wrong. Turns out she can only fit me in if I send her the manuscript in a week and a half.”
I blink in shock. “A week and a half?”
“Yep.” Her face crumples and she slumps down onto the steps of O-Land, dropping her head into her hands. “I can’t do this. I can’t finish a novel, plan a wedding, show my sister the city…”
My heart clenches and I sit beside her. “Hey, don’t worry about me. I’m here to help you, not be a burden.”
She looks up, sniffing. “I know. I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant.”
Cat leans against the stair railing. “Could you work with a different editor?”
“I’ve already paid her.” Alex wipes her nose. “It was my mistake. I’ve been so distracted with the wedding that I got the date wrong.”
“You said you only had a quarter of the book to finish, right?” Geoff asks. “Can you do that in a week and a half?”
“Normally yes, but with everything else—”
“Don’t worry about everything else.” I squeeze her arm. “I don’t need to go sightseeing. Seriously, it’s not…” I trail off, unsure how to explain that I’m actually relieved at the thought of not visiting Times Square or the Empire State Building with throngs of tourists.
Her forehead creases. “But I promised you, Harri.”
“I really don’t mind. I’m here foryou. That’s what matters. And as for the wedding stuff…” I swallow, knowing that if she’s spending the next week and a half focused on her writing, I’m spending more time with the one person I should be avoiding. “Luke and I will take care of everything.”
Because if that’s what Alex needs, that’s what I’ll do.
14
Ismooth my red hair down over one shoulder and key in the code Luke gave me to enter his building. When the door pops open, my heart jumps in my chest.
I climb the stairs, lugging a bag filled with art supplies I picked up earlier today. I thought it might be nice to hand-letter the place cards because I learned calligraphy a few years ago. Though as I reach Luke’s door, I can’t help but wonder if this is a bad idea. His pristine apartment hardly seems the right place to pull out a pot of India ink and a calligraphy pen. But then, I can’t do this in a coffee shop, and Alex needed her place quiet so she could focus. Plus, I thought it might be a nice surprise.
I knock on the door, trying to quell the anxiety rising from my belly.There’s nothing to be nervous about, I remind myself. Last time things were fine. Well, apart from when I got unreasonably aroused as he discussed color-coding the seating chart, but that won’t happen again.
The door swings open, and there on Luke’s face is a pair of black, square-framed glasses. “Hey,” he says, like this is no big deal.
But it is a big deal. It’s a huge deal. He’s every possible nerd fantasy come to life. Before I can stop them, my eyes sweep down his body, taking in his gray sweats and black T-shirt. Anyone else wearing this would look like a slob, but on him it’s sexy as hell. The shirt fits his shoulders and chest perfectly, clinging to all the right bits, and the pants are slung low across his hips. I bring my gaze back to his glasses, which he adjusts self-consciously, and I have to swallow down the saliva pooling in my mouth.
Shit, this was a terrible idea.
“Uh, hi,” I mumble, stepping into his apartment. “I didn’t know you wore glasses.”
“Yeah, sometimes my contacts irritate my eyes.”
When I turn back, his cheeks are pink. I hold up my bag of supplies, forcing myself to look away. “Where should I put these?”
