And I’m the luckiest man in the world.
After a few more drinks, I walk with Rachel to the car. I hate to send her home on her own, but I don’t want to leave Aidan without talking to him alone.
Beside the car, I take her face in my hands and touch my lips to hers, licking the seam of her lips before sliding my tongue inside her mouth. Sensation explodes, heady, sweet, and so addictive.
“I have to stay,” I tell her when I release her. “Aidan and I have some things to discuss, but Joe will take you home.” My regret intensifies at the disappointment in her eyes.
She doesn’t argue. “Okay.”
I open the door for her. When she’s inside, I resist the urge to kiss her again. “See you soon.”
“Yeah,” she replies softly. “See you soon.”
Aidan assures me he’s fine.
“Stop fretting,” he groans, but then his eyes light up. “Let’s talk about Rachel. I like her.”
“Good,” I say wryly. “I like her too.”
He studies me with raised eyebrows, and his eyes dance with a familiar mischief. “But…she’s not your girlfriend, and it’s not as defined as that?”
“Pretty much. We’re good together. That’s really all it is.”
“It’s hard to believe you’re okay with that,” he says. “You seem really into her.”
I am really into her. I’m more than into her, and thankfully, she’s mine.
For now.
I ignore the voice and change the subject. “Liz was great tonight.”
Aidan looks down at his glass. “She’s a talented actress.”
I wonder again if Rachel is right about his feelings for Liz. What would that mean for the play? Has anything happened between them already? I remember the cabin, and the problem he wouldn’t share with me. Did it have anything to do with her?
Stop hovering.
“If today is any indication, on opening night, we’ll be talking about the Tony Awards.”
His chest rises. “Yeah…we’ll see how it goes.”
After I leave Aidan hours later, I go home to my empty apartment. My mind goes to Rachel, and I can still feel her disappointment from earlier.
I’m not the only one who would have liked the night to end some other way—namely, with us in bed, together.
As the image fixes itself in my mind, it becomes impossible to think of anything else. I pour myself a drink and try to focus on other things, but it’s no use.
I’m halfway to her apartment before I even realize what I’m doing.
She’ll think I’m crazy.
She’ll think I’m obsessed with her. Which I totally am.
Regardless, I park outside her building and call her phone.
“Hey.” The sound of her voice chases away all my reservations.
“Did I wake you?”