Apollo chuckles as he approaches me from behind. His thick arms lace around my waist, and he presses a kiss to the top of my head. It’s strange how natural it feels.
“Then you should have been here earlier. Could have helped me choose something different.”
He takes the bags from my hands and sets them in the walk-in closet, then returns with a dazzling smile. “Let’s head out.”
twenty-five
I driveus in my car because all he has is a motorcycle. And pick the music, which makes him squirm in his seat. But I notice his toe tapping on the chorus.
“Not sure if it’s the right time to bring up, but I heard that your close friend, Ellis, was the murdered girl on Thriller Thursday. I’m sorry to hear it.”
Any tightness I had left over from this morning evaporates. “Thank you.”
His hand slips across the console and lands on my thigh. “Do you want to tell me about her?”
I clear my throat. “She’s— She was a great friend. We were opposites. She was outgoing and vivacious, and liked to go out.” I give a half-laugh. “Really, she was the only reason I did. Otherwise, I think I’d always stay in my room.”
When I glance over, the streetlights flash across Apollo’s face, lighting up his soft grin. “I get that.”
“You, too?”
Fingers squeezing me gently, he shrugs. “Yeah. If I weren’t the president ofDelta, then I’d stay inside, too.”
“So why become president?”
He blinks like this is something no one asked him before. “To be useful. To help my house and be something. Somebody.”
The moment fills with solid silence. I think back to when I considered that Apollo wasn’t focused enough. What if I pegged him wrong?
I find us a parking spot and zip up my coat. As soon as we enter the store, I grab a cart and shove it at him with a stern warning.
“Look, we have an hour until closing. I like to shop as if it’s a mission. Nothing more. Nothing less. In my head, I’ve already created a master list of the items we need to focus on. Bedding being the top priority, followed by a shower curtain. Got that?”
Apollo’s smile is almost infectious. It’s as if he didn’t hear a word I said, and that swoony feeling returns. His eyes drift to my lips as he cocks his head to the side. “Mm-hmm.”
“What are you thinking?” I ask him, narrowing my eyes. I’m not sure I want to hear it. My nipples peak as his gaze drifts even lower, then back to my mouth.
“If we could find a bathroom so I could slot my dick between your beautiful lips.”
I shiver and take a deep breath. “Mission…” I whisper as he leans in close.
“Thosetwo lipsare my favorite thing about you, tulip.”
Sothat’swhere he got the nickname…
Hand planted on his firm chest, I attempt to shove himback and hide my amusement. “Not now. Focus. Get the goal done, and then we play.”
“Got it, missus.”
When I turn, he smacks my ass hard, then takes off. One foot on the cart’s axle. Riding down through the store with a boyish laugh. I sprint to keep up.
In the bedding aisle, I hold up two blankets.
“Green.” I give it a shake.
“My team’s colors are navy. Ithasto be navy.”
“Navy and green, then. And whichteam? You mean, your intramural soccer team?”
