“That is not enough information, and you know it.”
I exhale through my nose. “He said he’s flattered by my enthusiasm.”
She shrieks. I have to pull the phone away from my ear. A new message appears before I’ve even recovered.You know what really gets me?
I stare at it, instantly wary, then open the next one.
Not even a real denial that you meant me.
My face burns hotter.
I type back with all the dignity I have left, which, at this point, is not much.I denied it immediately.
His response is almost insultingly fast.Weakly.
I sit up straighter on the couch like that will help. “He said my denial was weak.”
Clio makes an outraged sound on my behalf and then immediately ruins it by laughing again. She’s having way too much fun.k
Another message arrives.Should we move this to an in-person discussion, or are you committed to seducing me online?
I stare at it, my mouth gaping open as I’m typing.I am not seducing you.
Clio is laughing so hard she can barely get air. “I’m never recovering from this.”
“Neither am I,” I say. “This is how I die. Not from Daniel but from accidentally sexting a fire dancer on social media.”
“You say ‘accidentally,’ but he seems unconvinced.”
A new message is waiting.Also, for what it’s worth, I’m enjoying this a lot more than I should.
And damn him for that, because the heat in my face is burning me up. Less embarrassment now. More that dangerous little pull he keeps dragging out of me.
I stare at the words for a second too long before typing back.Go to sleep, Luca.
His answer comes straight away.Can’t. I’m dealing with a situation.
I shouldn’t smile. But my mouth betrays me anyway while Clio is still giggling down the phone.
“Well, I’d better let you go before you actually die of laughter,” I say.
Clio wheezes, “Sorry, babe, but this is hilarious.”
“Your support means everything to me.”
“It should. Okay, speak soon. Love ya.”
“Love you too.”
Then I hang up, still smiling like an idiot.
I get up, deciding that a shower is needed, and spot my chips because they were in the bag from the van, and they’re the good salt-and-vinegar ones, which I’ll devour after I’ve washed.
Standing under the warm water with shampoo in my hair, I let myself think back to what Luca said in the doorway earlier about him being my scent match.
The thing is, when I was close to him by the van, when his scent wrapped around me and my brain temporarily wentoffline, I suspected the same. Then there’s Ace’s scent, which made me lose control on the plane. And when North’s arms were around me tonight, something deep and involuntary went,Oh.
I rinse out the shampoo and decide I’m not finishing that thought tonight because I genuinely don’t know what to do with it and I’m already running at capacity.
