“So what’s next? How long will it take to get your apartment fixed and back to normal?” Reece asks between bites.
“Hoy had the buildings insurance adjustor come in to check it out today and they told him it would take about two months. Some tossing out of furniture and clothes and we’ll be ready.”
“Where are you two going to stay until then?” He looks between Addison and me.
“The insurance company is putting us up in a hotel for now.”
“Why don’t you guys just stay with us? We’ve got an extra room, and it’s in the same apartment building so you can move the stuff you’re saving up one floor instead of renting somewhere else.”
I wait for Weston to step in and tell him it isn’t necessary, my breath muted in anticipation of discouraging this idea, but per usual he remains quiet. My eyes plead with him to ‘say something.’ Still, he remains opinion-less. I kick him under the table, finally getting his attention.
“Ow!” His eyes find mine. “What the hell was that for?”
“We already discussed this via text, remember?” I raise my eyebrows at him accusingly.
He smirks and shrugs.Ass.
Addison speaks up next, looking over at me. “That’s such a nice offer. Isn’t it, Wynter?” Her tone sounds a tad overly dramatic.
“Yes, it’s very nice, but we wouldn’t want to be in the way.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all.” This comes from Reece, who can’t stop the smile that grabs his eyes while staring at Addison.
Eyes finding mine, she reaches over and grabs my hand. “Please, Wynter? I really don’t want to stay in a hotel.”
My eyes stray to the man sitting across from me and I can’t help but notice the slight tilt of his lips, gracing his features. I shoot him a droll look. He knows better yet is choosing to remain silent. He will pay for this little stunt later. The pleading eyes of my friend beg me to say yes, but I won’t agree. “No, Adds, the insurance is paying for it, not me. It’s not a big deal.”
There’s no way I’d be able to keep this glacial force field between us if I work and live with him. He leaves the office at five o’clock these days. If I lived with him, I’d never catch a break from my wandering eyes and his heated glances. And that charm… gag me now.
Heaven help me because I know I’d murder his cocky ass.
“But Wynter…” My best friend gives me her best pout face.
“No, Adds. If you want to stay with them, you can, but I’m going to a hotel.”
She turns back to Reece. “Guess it’s just me then and I’d love to stay with you.”
“Perfect. We’ll get to know each other on an even better level.”
I scoff. Keyword for sex right there, friends.
Awkward silence fills the rest of our dinner. If I weren’t in a place so public I would have gotten up and left. Weston knows I won’t move in and doesn’t even say anything. I’m fuming. I can’t put a finger on the reason why.Maybe it's the fact that he already knows I don’t want to stay there. He could have simply just mentioned that we talked earlier today, but he didn’t.
Reece swipes the receipt and pays, despite my insistence to pay for my meal.
Heading back to The Gardens, the guys decide that Addison needs to move stuff now instead of waiting until tomorrow. Fine by me. I pack a bag of clothes and book a room at Harrington Suites. It’s safer for me to not be around Weston Croix, especially when he makes me feel things.
Click.Click. Click.
“Croix, are you done yet?” I hiss. We’ve been at each other’s throats all morning and not in an enjoyable way. I’d spent all night long listening to the couple next door’s vivacious lovemaking. His grunts, her moans, and the banging on the wall had me half tempted to bang on my own side of the wall and tell them to shut the hell up because some of us were trying to sleep. Instead, I’d thrown my pillow over my head and tried, unsuccessfully, to get some sleep.
I already made a stop at Sugar and Spice Bakery to grab coffee, but not even the caffeine is helping the lack of sleep headache drilling my brain.
Click. Click. Click.
He’s standing, pen in hand, in my office as I go over his column proposal for the month.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Is this bothering you?” he asks in his ever-charming, gag-worthy tone. I open my mouth to have a smart remark back to him, but then let it go. “You know, Chief, I’d say maybe you woke up on the wrong side of the bed.”