Page 71 of Only With You

“I’d love to, but I have to go in early tomorrow.”

Disappointment mars his face, but he quickly replaces it with a lighthearted smile. “That’s all right. Maybe next time?”

“Yeah, sure. Well, ah, thanks for tonight. I had fun and your friends were great.” I climb out of his car and bend down to wave goodbye.

He wanted to walk me inside, and I would’ve said yes, but his phone wouldn’t stop going off. Before he shut it off, I saw a message that said he needed to hurry because the party was getting insane.

We say our last goodbyes and then he’s off.

I would’ve invited him in, but I could tell his mind was on the party. Sure, he was having a good time with me, but toward the end of our date, the party was all he was talking about.

It was never going to work out anyway, because I couldn’t care less if he called me back or not. I sound terrible, but I just don’t feel anything.

Turning the flashlight on my phone, I step into my pitch-black apartment and shut the door behind me. I set my purse on the small table and take my boots off.

The date may have gone okay, but on the bright side, I looked really good tonight.

“Could you be any louder?”

I swear my soul detaches itself from me and I let out an ear-shattering shriek. I can’t register anything as fear takes hold of me and I panic, flinging my purse as hard as I can at the person.

“Calm down. It’s me, Landon.”

The light flicks on, blinding me momentarily before my eyes adjust to my surroundings and the person standing in front of me wearing glasses.

“What the hell?” I smack his chest and hate how he doesn’t flinch, and most of all hate how hard it is. “You scared me! What are you doing here?”

He grabs my wrist, preventing me from hitting him again. I try to wrench it free, but he doesn’t let go, probably not trusting I won’t do it again. Smart, because I would have.

“What did you think you were going to accomplish with this?” He holds my purse, examining it.

Much to my chagrin, he’s right. What did I think I was going to accomplish with it? I didn’t think. I just did the first thing that came to mind.

“What are you doing here?” I take my purse, changing the subject because that’s the real and most important question. “You know there’s a party atyourhouse tonight? Aren’t you supposed to be there?”

“What are you doing here?” he accuses.

I snuff a laugh. “What am I doing inmyhome? The homeIpay rent for? The home that?—”

“Okay, you don’t have to be a smart-arse,” he interrupts me, taking his glasses off to rub his eyes, and it dawns on me that he was…sleeping?

Wait, but since when does he wear glasses? And why does he look good? No, he looks better than good. He looks hot.

“Well, don’t ask dumb-ass questions. You won’t get dumb-ass answers,” I retort with a shrug.

That surprisingly gets the corner of his lip to slightly jerk upward.

“I should’ve clarified. I thought you were going to the party after your…date,” he flatly drawls.

The smart thing would be to kick him out, because I don’t owe him an explanation. But I tell him anyway, ignoring the odd tumble in my stomach when his thumb gently caresses my skin.I should call him out on it, because I’m not sure he realizes he’s doing it, but I don’t.

“You thought wrong. I never planned on going to the party. Your turn.”

“I never planned on going to the party,” he repeats my words and I narrow my eyes at him, wondering if he’s mocking me, but I don’t see anything playful in his expression.

“Really?”

“Did Polly or Gabby not tell you?”

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