Collin:I’m guessing since you aren’t answering it means you tossed and turned all night.
Collin:I don’t blame you. I realize being engaged to me is a big deal.
Collin:Seriously, though, I just want to check in and see how you’re doing.
Collin:I’m going to stop texting now because I’m being annoying.
I grab for my mimosa and down it, trying to fight my smile.
Noli:Totally annoying, FYI.
Grinning, I toss my phone onto my bed and slip into the tiny bathroom. I kick my pajamas to the corner and pull on a sports bra and some athletic shorts. If I hurry, I can get a twenty-minute workout in before Poppy and Rose get back.
Banging on the downstairs service door greets me when I leave the bathroom. “Come on up!” I holler.
I grab my phone and click over to my fitness app, finding an upper-body strength workout that looks appealing. The door opens behind me.
“Did you guys forget something?” I spin around, expecting to see my sisters, but instead, I come face to face with Collin. “Oh! Hey!”
He’s dressed in his jet-black uniform. His hair is damp, and he’s holding a plate piled high with baked goods. There’s steam rising off the top, and I can’t decide what looks more delicious—the man or the muffins.
On countless occasions over the past month and a half since we’ve (unofficially) officially been engaged, Collin’s gone out of his way to prove to me that he does, in fact, want to show up for me. To be on my team. Whether he’s being especially attentive on our double dates with Poppy and Mack or texting me to check in like he did this morning, he’s been true to his word. It’s sort of weird,being friendly with him. But I don’t hate it. I actually kind of like it. And that feels more foreign than the Eiffel Tower.
Since we have to keep up appearances, we’ve been going to the café for coffee when our schedules coordinate, and he gives me his full attention every time we’re out. Katherine was there last week, but Collin and I were so engrossed in a conversation about boy bands that I barely even noticed her attempts to get our attention.
We’ve rarely spent time in my apartment, since it’s so tiny.
Until this moment.
Now, it feels like the walls are closing in on me—not in a negative way.
Collin fills the space with his oversized stature, intense gaze, and deliciously woodsy scent.
His eyes skim down my body before ratcheting back up to my face. My stomach chooses that moment to rumble. I put a hand to it, and when I touch bare skin, I remember I’m wearing nothing but a sports bra.
He clears his throat. “Uh, I’m sorry to barge in on you, but I had some muffins leftover this morning. Thought maybe you’d like one. When you texted back, I figured you were awake, but I don’t mean to intrude.”
He holds out the plate for me, and I cross the small living room to take it from him. The closer I get, the more my pulse does a sort of pop, lock, and drop it sequence. I won’t need a workout at this rate, my blood pressure is elevated enough from being in the presence of my fake fiancé.
“Thanks.” Why do I sound breathy? I swallow. “These look great. Did you make them?”
He glances at the ground, looking bashful. It’s not a look I’m used to seeing from Collin, and I don’t even want to admit the pitter patter that does to my heart.
“Had some bananas that were about to go bad, so I whipped these up to avoidwasting them.”
“Wow.” I set the plate down on my tiny kitchen table, sniffing the delectable-looking pastries. “If I admit I’m impressed, you’ll be insufferable, but…” I shrug and spin around to face him again, offering him a smile.
His face breaks into a smile of its own, his dimples coming out to play. “I’m already insufferable.”
I laugh at that, crossing my arms over my chest. “Acknowledgment is the first step to recovery.”
Collin chuckles but then looks bashful again. I don’t know what to do with myself in the wake of his sweet muffin offering. Do I offer him a seat? Ask him if he wants to split a muffin?
He shifts the weight between his legs. This, of course, draws my attention to his muscular lower body, and my mouth goes dry.
“So, how are you?” Collin asks, breaking the silence between us.
I exhale and twist my lips to the side. “Well, my sisters are making me go wedding dress shopping today.”
