“We can make time.”
I turn to face him and smooth my hands down the front of the dress. “Kendall’s expecting us at nine. We shouldn’t be late.”
“Not even ten minutes?”
“Louis, this is peer pressure.” I glance down at his semi. “Correction: penis pressure.”
He chuckles but steps back, keeping his eyes on me. “Fine. But I’d like to be on the record as preferring yououtof that dress.”
“Noted,” I say, moving past him toward the bathroom to finish my makeup.
Louis leans against the doorframe and watches me in the mirror as I brush mascara on my lashes. I choose a red lipstick to match the dress and a little highlighter on my cheekbones.
“You’re sure Patterson is cool with this?” he asks.
“Kendall says he’ll get over it.”
“That’s not a yes,” he says.
“I know. Unfortunately, it’s the best I’ve got.” I cap the lipstick. “She knows him better than anyone. If she says it’ll be fine, I’m choosing to believe her.”
“Power of the pussy.”
“Exactly. And if the vibes are off, we’ll leave.” I turn to face him. “It will be okay.”
“It will. I haven’t visited Diamond in a year.” His hands settle on my waist when I cross to him. “I’m excited to experience it with you.”
I slide my hands up his chest and feel him relax under my touch. “We’re going to have fun. It’s our first real night out. Let’s enjoy it.”
“We could be in hell together, and I’d be happy.”
“We kinda are.” I gently kiss him. “Come on. Let’s go try to be normal.”
“Stop talking dirty to me,” he says.
He playfully pats my ass as I walk past him. I yelp with a laugh.
He kisses me again. “Thank you.”
“For?” I ask.
“Being the calm in my sails,” he says.
“Always.”
I grab my clutch from the dresser and take his hand. We make our way through the loft and into the elevator. The moment the doors open to the lobby, I spot at least ten paparazzi through the glass. They’re camped on the sidewalk with their cameras ready. They’ve been out there since I was banned from Montclaire, but the crowd has doubled since Louis arrived.
Nolan is waiting by the front desk like a Secret Service Agent. He straightens when he sees us.
“They’ve multiplied since I arrived,” Nolan says, nodding toward the glass. “Word has spread.”
“Of course it did.” I grip my clutch.
“Ready?”
“I think so,” I say.
Louis studies the crowd through the glass. We knew this was coming.
