And then Aunt Ruby had carefully told me, again, to be careful.
“It’s one thing to let a man pay for you,” she’d said, swirling her wine around in her cup. “But it’s another not to be able to support yourself. I just want to make sure this is good foryou, too.”
“It’s very good for me,” I’d said, flushing deeply before clearing my throat, trying to ignore the accidental innuendo, and telling her about the promise of a trust for me from the guys.
Even hearing that, Aunt Ruby was skeptical. Worried. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t plant a seed of worry in my chest, too.
“Okay, we have to stop being so depressing in this house,” Julian says, ending the hug and clapping his hands together.“It’s a crime to be sad in anything that costs over a million dollars.”
“Doesn’teverybuilding in New York cost over a million dollars?”
Julian points at me, “Touché.”
When Julian finds out there’s a hot tubanda sauna, he insists on us getting in, and I rummage around in Nico’s drawers until I find a pair of swim trunks—tags still on—for Julian to wear.
“I don’t think he’ll mind,” I say, even as my heart is still thudding in my chest at the intimacy of it. Offering my friend a change of clothes that belongs to my boyfriend.
One of my boyfriends.
Julian and I sit in the hot tub and look out over the city as the sun goes down. He tells me about a guy he’s started seeing, a book influencer who’s so well-read he makes Julian feel dumb.
“And I’m not dumb!” he insists, laughing and taking another sip of wine. “I went to college!”
Nico is the first one home. When he pops his head out onto the balcony, clearly looking for me, he finds Julian and me in the hot tub, under the heat lamps, and his eyebrows raise.
For a second, I think he might ask about me renting out his swim trunks. I think he might be upset that he’s home now, and Julian is still here.
But, instead, Nico just grins and asks, “More wine?”
Julian swoons, holds out his glass, and says, “Please.”
Chapter 38
Lucy
“Oh mygod, this guy has no idea what the hell he’s doing.”
At first, when I put this reality dating show on, the guys feigned that they were not interested in watching with me. Which was fine—I had my bowl of popcorn and a box of Red Hots, and Julian to text about the betrayals and sexy, scandalous moments.
Dane went to the office to take a call, while Cole had his laptop out on the couch, working on something, and Nico was prepping something in the kitchen. Now, just one episode in, they’re all back in the living room with me, watching. Even Cole has pushed a headphone off one ear to frown at the TV.
I’m sitting in the middle of the couch, Nico on one side of me and Dane on the other. Cole is on the love seat, his laptop on his knees, his shaggy hair peeking out from under his headphones.
I raise an eyebrow and bump my knee against Nico’s socked foot in response to his outburst. “What, you think you could do better?”
On the screen, one of the contestants is trying to woo a woman with his idea of a date. He might be a little awkward, but he did bring her roses, which is a plus in my book.
Maybe it’s cheesy, but I’ve always loved red roses. Always liked how classic they look, even if it makes me unoriginal.
Dane lets out a puff of air, and when I glance at him, I’m struck again with how precious it is to see him like this. Dane Rourke, in his pajamas, wearing his glasses. His pajamas are more formal than Nico and Cole’s—always a matching set—but his hair isn’t styled, and his feet are bare. “Anyone could do better than that. He’s not even really paying attention to her.”
“Wait,” I sit up and hit the button on the weird, fancy touch-screen remote to pause the show. Turning fully to Nico and Dane, gesturing at the TV, I say, “Youreallythink you could do better than that? They’re going on a carriage ride!”
Nico rolls his eyes, thrusts a hand through his blonde waves. They’re already in disarray, since it’s the end of the day. “I plan the best dates. Women enjoy being surprised. They like it when youwoothem, with originality.”
Dane lets out a noise, and Nico turns to him, eyes narrowing. “What’s that sound for?”
Shrugging, Dane says, “Anyone can plan a good date. It’s what you do on the date that matters.”
