The world narrows when she looks up at me, those deep brown eyes of hers holding an understanding that makes me feelseen.Like maybe someday I could tell her everything. The whole lonely story.
“It’s okay. I’m sure I would have been suspicious in your position too. It was quite the coincidence. Definitely not a plot twist I saw coming.”
“Me neither. But I guess the best plot twists are the ones you don’t expect.”
Blair smiles at me. It’s a hesitant thing, like she doesn’t quite trust that I’m being honest. She doesn’t need to worry, but I get it. I haven’t given her many reasons to trust or believe me so far. We’ll get there.
“How’s Reed doing?”
That perks her up and pulls her out of her momentary shyness. “He’s great. Out at his friend Eddie’s house tonight. I think you met Eddie? The two of them met at family night.”
The kid I thought Reed was related to. “Yeah, I remember him. What are they up to tonight?”
Blair shrugs. “No idea. What do teenage boys do together?”
“Play video games and eat tons of food?”
“Probably about right. Hopefully, they’re also doing some homework somewhere in there too,” she says with a chuckle.
“I’m sure they are. They seem like great kids.”
“Yeah. They are.”
The look of pride on Blair’s face is everything I wish my mom had felt toward me but apparently never did. And Blair isn’t even Reed’s mom; she’s his big sister. He’s a lucky kid. Well, not that losing their parents was lucky, but they’re both lucky to have each other.
How many times had I wished I had a brother or sister to share the shitshow of my life with?
More times than I could count.
We slip into easy conversation after that. Blair fits in seamlessly with everyone. She jokes around with Griffin, asks Navarro about being a goalie and nods along seriously when he describes what he does in a game. She laughs with the ladies, commiserates with Ryder about losing parents too young, and even draws Maddox into a long conversation.
I don’t want the night to end, but I know Blair has to get home to her brother. So when it hits nine fifteen and she turns to Mira, I’m ready.
“Do you think I could get a ride home?”
“I can take you,” I offer, stretching. “I need to get home, anyway.”
Blair turns to me, eyes wide. “Are you sure? I know it’s early.” She glances at Mira and the other girls, who give her encouraging nods.
“Of course. Come on.” Rising from the couch, I offer Blair my hand. She hesitates for a moment before placing her warm palm in mine and letting me pull her up.
Goodbyes are said, hugs are exchanged, then I’m riding the elevator down to the parking garage with the beautiful woman who’s drawn my attention all night. The woman who is still not wearing a coat. I want to give her a hard time about it, but I won’t. I’ll just take care of it.
When we get to my sleek SUV, I open her door for her and am rewarded with a pretty blush. “Where do you live?”
She rattles off her address, which I plug into my GPS, and then we fall silent. It’s not an uncomfortable one, but I want to break it all the same. I want to know everything about her, and if I thought she’d tell me, I’d ask her a hundred questions. But I don’t think she’s ready for that, yet, so we slip into small talk.
All too soon, I’m parking in street parking in front of her building, turning the car off, and getting out. Blair’s expression is surprised when I round the car and open her door for her.
“What are you doing?”
“Walking you to your door.”
“Oh. You don’t have to do that.”
“I know. But I’m still going to.” Blair clutches her new book to her chest once she’s out of the car, looking unsure.
“Come on,” I say, offering her my arm like some fancy gentleman of yore. What the fuck was I thinking, doing that? Luckily, she takes my arm after giving me a curious look, and I breathe out a sigh of relief. “Which floor?”
