“If it gets too much for her, and she pushes you away, don’t let her.” Bella’s voice is full of hope that I’ll do what she asks.
“You got it.”
Her chin dips in a subtle movement. She turns to face the door, and the moment evaporates by her screech as she steps inside Erin’s place.
“Oh, Erinnnn! Look what I found skulking around outside.” She smirks as I follow her into the house, shaking my head at her antics.
When Erin walks into view, I forget how to fucking breathe.
She has a green face mask on, her hair pulled up in a messy bun. A dark blue crop top clings to her tiny waist, and her gray shorts show off her tan legs. The whole look is tied together with an oversized nude cardigan and fluffy blue socks.
Holy hell.
Her eyes bulge when she sees me. She lets out a high-pitched squawk and slaps both hands to her face, then freezes, realizing she’s just smeared whatever was on her face onto her palms.
“Ahh!” she cries, yanking her hands away.
Bella and I double over in laughter as Erin spins on her heel and gives me her back.
“What areyoudoing here?” she groans. “It’s girl’s night.”
A beat passes before the door slams behind me again.
“She. Did. Not,” Erin gasps, horrified.
“Afraid she did. And she took the food with her.”
“Noooooo!” Erin whines as she stomps her foot in a dramatic tantrum.
She’s just so adorable.
“How’d it go with Ink and Print?” I ask, stepping closer.
“Um…good, I think. You?”
“I didn’t have an interview with them.” I smile. “I tried to find you,” I say as I edge closer again.
“I thought you might want some space,” she says quietly. “I took a cab home, then Bella called. Helena James, a California real estate developer she’s obsessed with, wants to set up a meeting. Bella said she was coming over and bringing Chinese for a girl’s night.”
“Erin?”
“Yeah.”
“You really gonna make me talk to your back because of a face mask?” I ask.
“Yep.”
I place my hand on her hips. She lets out a little gasp as I spin her around to face me. Her hands fly up to cover her face again, but I catch her wrists before she can, giving her a once-over.
My little green monster is embarrassed.
As she shifts one foot behind the other, she mumbles under her breath, wishing the ground would swallow her whole.
“I like you like this,” I murmur.
“Utterly ridiculous and mortified?”
“Relaxed, calm, and beautiful as fuck.”
