Page 46 of Rush

Like he knows I just thought that, he says through the door, “Ari, I know you’re there. I just heard you turn down the shit music.”

Ugh. Asshole.

I stubbornly fold my arms over my chest. “I’m not pretending not to be here. I’m just choosing to ignore you.”

“But you’re not ignoring me right now.” He sounds smug.

Jackass.

I flip him the bird even though he can’t see me.

“Will you open the door?”

“No.”

“Please.”

I don’t think I’ve ever heard him use the word please before. Especially not to me.

That makes me open the door. But I’m frowning when I swing it open. And I hate how my heart switches up tempo at the sight of him standing there. Traitorous heart.

I see his jaw clench as he takes in my appearance. And you know what? I don’t even care that I’m only dressed in a sports bra and shorts, all sweated up. I’m not trying to impress him right now.

Actually, I’ve never wanted to impress him, period.

All I’ve ever wanted was for him to like me. To be my friend.

When he finally lifts his eyes from my body to my face, his brow rises. “NSYNC? Really?”

“You got me to open the door, so you could pick apart my choice of music?”

“No. I wanted to make sure you were okay, and—”

“You mean, you came to see if I was drunk. Well, I’m not. Sorry to disappoint.”

His eyes darken, jaw tightening to shatter. “The thought didn’t even cross my mind.”

That does surprise me.

“I actually came to apologize.”

No, that surprises me. I have to grip the door to stop from falling backward from shock.

“You were right. I shouldn’t have discussed you with Thompson. The moment he brought it up, I should’ve shut him down. I let myself get pulled into the locker-room banter, and it was wrong. I’m sorry for that.”

“Thank you for apologizing. But there was truth in it. You think I have baggage.”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

True.

“I guess. But you used it as a reason to not be with me.”

His head tilts to the side. “Do you want…that?”

“God, no!” Liar. “It just hurt me to hear that I’m undateable because of my alcohol abuse problems.”

“You’re not undateable, Ari. Far from it.”