"No."
"You used cash?"
"No."London kicks off her shoe and leaves it scattered on the floor, completely out of place.
"How did you pay for it then?" I lock the door and wait for her to answer, my arms crossing over my chest.
"I'm not really in the mood, Archer. Can we fight about this some other time?"
"You just don't want to tell me," I press. "Why?"
She turns toward me, her eyes meeting mine, something hidden in her expression I can't quite place. "Because it's none of your fucking business, that's why."
"What the hell got into you?" I step closer. "Did something happen? Did he do something?"
London narrows her gaze. "Didwhodowhat?"
"Drew," I blurt out.
"How did you know I was with Drew? Did you stalk me? How do you even know his name?"
"He's Camille's brother. I saw you out front. Don't be so full of yourself, I wouldn't stalk you. Now, I answered your questions, you answer mine."
"Drew bought it, okay? Are you happy?" London rolls her eyes so intensely that I swear they must have touched the back of her head.
"Why?" The word almost comes out of my mouth like a growl. I can barely recognize the strange sensation running through me.
"Why are you being such an asshole, Archer?" London lets out a breath. "I'm not in the mood."
"You kiss me and then let him buy you a dress?"
"Excuse me?Youkissed me!"
"It was a mistake."
"I'm well fucking aware, Archer. And it won't happen again. Ever. Plus, you're a bad kisser anyway." London turns on her heel and storms away, slipping into my bedroom and slamming the door shut. A second later, she yanks the door open and pokes her head out. "I have a date with Drew on Thursday. You have two days to get over it and yourself." She closes herself back in, and when I glance down both of my hands are balled into fists.
I fucking hate that she has this effect on me and despite my better judgment, there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it.
Two antagonizing days later, London spends far too much time getting ready in the bathroom.
We barely spoke the last forty-eight hours, each passing second adding to the wall building between us. It's strange being in this close proximity to someone but feeling so far away. I can't stand it, but it's partially my doing.
I should have never agreed to allow London to stay here in the first place, that mistake compiling on top of all the others.
I absolutely never should have kissed her—that was reckless of me, stupid even. I couldn't help it, she was frustrating the hell out of me and the only rational thing my brain could come up with was to shut her up.
London steps out of the bathroom, my attention glued to the computer screen in front of me. I refuse to look at her, to witness whatever she spent hours on in the bathroom.
She clears her throat and makes her way to the table her purse is sitting on, her heel clicking against the floor.
When I don't acknowledge her, she continues to the door. "I'll be back later, don't wait up for me." London doesn't bother waiting for my response, not that I was going to give her one anyway, and leaves a second later.
I hurriedly start typing on my computer, pulling up the camera feed from outside my apartment complex where Drew is already waiting, a Jaguar parked out front that must belong to him.
I watch him watch her, his face lighting up the second she approaches. She gives him a soft smile, but even through the pixelated feed, I can tell it's not genuine.
They exchange a few words before he escorts her to the car, opening the back door for her and shutting it. He moves around to the other side, climbing in and no doubt telling his driver they can go. The car takes off and it dawns on me that I don't have access to their journey to the restaurant. As long as they stick to the plan, I've already gained access to Rao's and am fully prepared there, but until then, I'm in the dark.