I scowled.“All you’re doing is proving my point for me.”
“You saw me take down a big guy like Keegan before.I can take care of myself.You worry too much.”
“I’m your boyfriend; it’s literally my job.”
“Oh.”All her breath left in a huge whoosh, and she stared at me with wide eyes.“You consider yourself my boyfriend?”
Fuck.At this rate, I was going to run out of feet to shove in my mouth.“Kinda.Yeah.I mean we haven’t put any labels on this, but I don’t want anyone else.You’re not sleeping with anyone else, are you?”
She shook her head mutely.
“So what would you call us then?”
“Friends with benefits?”
Damn, that was an ego kick.“Okay.I’m good with that.”
“You’re sure?”She searched my eyes like she’d find the answer there, but I was careful to look as mellow as I could.
“Absolutely.As long as it means I still get you in my bed tonight.”I gave her my best, easygoing grin.
“Okay.I mean, yes.I want that too.”
“Great, now come on.I’ve been dying to show you my place.”
That trepidatious expression slid across her face again.But she let me grab her by the hand and pull her into my home.
“I bought the place after our third album.It took up most of my savings at the time, but it was worth it.Pretty sure it’s doubled in value since then.”I pulled her up the stairs and into the large living area.Skylights bubbled above the ceiling and ran the entire length of the house, bathing the place in natural light.But it was the huge windows at the end facing the ocean that grabbed Alice’s attention.The people on the beach were tiny dots compared to the immense span of the ocean.It was the whole reason I’d bought the place.
“Wow,” Alice whispered.She stepped up to the windows and put a hand to the glass, but stopped short before dropping her hand.After fidgeting for a second, she clasped her hands behind her back.She stared out for a minute then turned and gave me a smile.“It’s a great view.But aren’t you worried about living in a fishbowl?I mean anyone could just look in here.”
I nodded at the top of the windows.“Motorized blinds.I can control them through my phone.”
“Ah.”She nodded then looked to the small balcony off the kitchen with a tiny outdoor sofa and chair.She turned and took in the galley kitchen with the glossy white flat panel cabinets, gray quartz countertops, and professional six-burner gas stove I didn’t know how to use.“It’s big.”
“Are you okay staying here?We can always get a hotel room if you’d rather.”
“No.That’d be crazy.Why would we stay in a hotel when you have all this?”
The words were right, but her tone was all off.Almost like she was battling a panic attack.
I wanted to ask if she was sure, but I was pretty sure that’d only make whatever this was worse.So instead I copped out.
“All right.I’ll go grab our bags.My room is the only bedroom on this level.Feel free to have a look around.”
Then I beat it.
I couldn’t figure her out.She blew hot then cold.Mostly cold, if I were being honest.She was a complex fucking enigma I was determined to figure out.But her walls were so thick, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to get through.
As I tossed our bags into my walk-in closet, my phone pinged with a text.
Xander:You might need to adopt another dog because I’m stealing this one
And he attached a photo of DJ cuddling on his couch with Harper as she read a book.
Me:That’s my dog.Go find your own.Alice can hook you up
A floorboard creaked as Alice lurked in the hallway.
