Tori looks at me, her hands on her hips. “You fucking twat. You told him I was lazy? Not everyone has the energy to be the damn energizer bunny like you. Some of us actually use our energy for better things like getting laid.”
She tilts her head as my eyes look down toward the ground. Fuck! Don’t say anything. Don’t say anything.
“Wait . . .” Double fuck! “You’re that guy that Calla did the photo-shoot with, right? The personal trainer guy?”
Kyan smiles while starting to put our groceries away. He surprisingly seems to know where most of it goes too. Impressive.
“You don’t have to do that, Kyan.” I rush into the kitchen, hoping to pause any awkward conversation that’s about to start. Tori has always had a way of making conversations awkward. Always. I grab the bread out of his hand and set it next to the bag. “Carrying these upstairs was enough. Trust me. I owe you.”
“Why are you wet,” Tori asks with a laugh. “It was completely dry when we brought the first load up.”
I ignore her and smile up at Kyan. “Thank you. I can take care of these.”
Stepping away from the counter, Kyan runs a hand through his wet hair, his muscles flexing, causing Tori and I to both stare like idiots. “Sure.” He grips the back of my neck and softly presses his lips to the side of my mouth again. “I’ll text you later about our next training session. I have a bunch of work to get done anyways.”
I nod my head and smile as he walks over to Tori and reaches out to shake her hand. “Glad to have you in the building.”
Tori tilts her head as she shakes his hand, making sure to grope his hand. “Sure,” she says, confused. “Nice meeting you, gorgeous.”
I hold my breath until the front door closes behind him.
“What did that mean, Calla?” Tori jumps up onto the counter to help me put groceries away. “Does he manage this damn building? That’s insanely hot if he does.”
“Not exactly.” I throw a box of cereal into the cupboard above me, not really caring how it lands right now. “He owns it.”
Tori’s eyes widen as she blinks away the shock. “Holy shit! You’re fucking the guy that owns this building?” She points at the floor. “This building? The one we’re living in? The one we’ve been saving our asses off to get into? This expensive and very nice building?”
I turn toward her and toss a box of Pop-tarts at her head. “I never said I was sleeping with him.”
She jumps down from the counter. “You don’t have to say it. I figured it out the other night when you came home all flushed while looking at his sexy pictures. Plus, he practically just kissed you.”
“Yeah, but he didn’t,” I say, somewhat disappointed.
“More proof that you’re fucking him.” She grins while opening the fridge and tossing a bag of salad inside. “Men do that when they’re trying to keep their hearts out of the mess that their dicks have them in. He’s trying not to fall for you, honey. This is perfect for you. You’re not ready to open your heart up again and he’s not ready to give his. Perfect arrangement.”
I stand here, leaning against the sink, letting her words sink in. If he’s doing his part to keep himself from falling for me, then I need to do my part before I ruin everything.
Reaching into my jacket, I pull out my phone and read Hunter’s message for the twentieth time since he sent it an hour ago.
Hunter: A friend of mine is having a small party tonight. Come with me.
I look up as Tori continues to ramble, but I’m not listening to a word she’s saying. I can’t. Biting my bottom lip, I reply to his message.
Me: I’m free for a few hours tonight. Pick me up around eightish?”
It only takes a few seconds for Hunter to reply, and when he does his words leave me slightly nervous and excited.
Hunter: I’ll pick you up as soon as you’ll allow me to. Wear something sexy ;)
Smiling from ear to ear, I set my phone down and continue putting away our groceries.
Please don’t let me screw this up . . .
I’M JUST FINISHING UP MY makeup when I hear a knock on the front door. I instantly get nervous just knowing that Hunter is on the other side. A part of me wants to knock the door down just to get to him and the other part wants to hide before I end up getting myself into a complicated situation that I can’t get myself out of. This still feels so surreal to me.
“I’m going to do this.” I’m going to go out and enjoy this night with him as if I were still that damn teenaged girl just wanting one date with Hunter; one date, and now is my chance.