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I press the button for the elevator. “I just need to grab my keys, and then I can drive you home.”

“Oh.” She blinks, slowly taking in her surroundings, a hint of sadness in her eyes.

We board the elevator and ride up to the top floor, where my apartment is. I turn the key and usher her inside.

She’s standing awkwardly in the middle of the room.

“Do you need anything? Drink or food?” I ask.

“Do you mind if I use the bathroom?”

“Not at all.” I point in the general direction of my bathroom, but I have a similar layout to her brother’s, so it’s unnecessary.

I head to the kitchen and pour myself a glass of water, and then grab a glass for Lettie, too.

“Here,” I say as I hand her the glass, ensuring my fingers don’t touch hers. I don’t want to make her more uncomfortable than she already is.

“Thanks.” She reaches out and accepts the cup.

My eyes take her in. She’s more awake than she was just a minute ago, more alert and functioning. She takes a long sip of her drink and then places it on the kitchen island.

“Ready.” She swings her two hands together in a loud, awkward clap thing.

“Sure.” I shrug. “You’re also welcome to stay.”

“I am?” Her eyes bug out.

“Uh, yeah.” I scratch my head.

Her jaw drops. “You’d still want to hang out with me?”

“Uh, yeah,” I repeat. Why wouldn’t I? I love spending time with her.

“I…” She pauses and takes a deep breath. “I thought you wanted to get rid of me.”

I blink twice. “What?”

“Uh…” She scratches her wrist. “You, uh, walked out of the hotel room as soon as you saw the one bed. You didn’t want to stay. You called everyone until you found a solution to leave.”

“That’s not what happened.” My words are out fast. She just stares at me to continue. “My eyes were on you first,” I say as my eyes lock with hers. “You looked like you were going to throw up as soon as you entered the room.”

“I did not!” Her response is fast and defensive. She pauses, and I don’t respond. I wait.

“Okay, well, maybe I was surprised at first. But I wasn’t sick or upset about it. If anything, I was a touch nervous.”

“Nervous?” I arch a brow.

She coughs out a laugh. “Uh, yeah.” She lifts her hand up and down toward my body. “Look at you.”

“I’m big?”

She chokes on a laugh, and my cheeks turn hot at what I mistakenly indicated, but I try to recover quickly.

“Well, I am that too.” I wink toward her, and now it’s her turn to blush.

“So.” I take a step toward her. “You weren’t repulsed at the thought of sharing a bed with me?”

She gulps. “No.”