Page 54 of Fourth Wall

“Oh right, fake dating.” Tatum laughed.

“Come on. This thing has an expiration date. Just a week ago, he couldn’t even go one day without going to another woman’s bed, and then he left again. We’re fake dating, and he’s just a really good friend.”

There was silence except for the lapping of waves. Chelsea was the one who broke the pregnant pause and started to laugh hysterically.

“Whatever makes you sleep at night, Maeve.” I rolled my eyes at them because it was true. I needed to get over it. We might have been attracted to each other at one point, but we needed to remain friends.

“I’ve gotta get home.” I got up from the pool and wrapped the towel around me.

“Would it be weird if I ran down the block with just this towel on? I don’t wanna put my whole outfit on again, but sitting in a wet swimsuit is like an automatic UTI for me.” The girls laughed.

“Nah, just run fast,” Chelsea encouraged.

“Elio’s inside, right?” Gianna laughed and nodded. I quickly slipped off my swimsuit and wrapped the towel tightly against my chest, then slipped on my shoes before heading out.

It was eight, so the sun was already starting to set, but when I tell you I sprinted toward my house, I mean I busted my ass as fast as I could to get home. I was in a bougie part of town, and I didn’t need any of the neighbors watching me run around their neighborhood in a freaking towel.

When I finally got home, I quickly entered the code on the door and the lock opened for me. Thank god for keyless entry.

“Hello?” I quietly whispered while checking the living room and kitchen. I looked down the hallway toward Christian’s office and noticed the light was on in there and saw the shape of a figure working on his computer. I didn’t want to interrupt him, so I quietly walked upstairs.

I checked on the girls tucked into bed and jumped into the shower before throwing on an oversized shirt.

I went to my room, where I lay down when I heard the bathroom door click open. I knew who it was before he even came in.

“Hey,” he whispered.

I looked up but didn’t bother to turn on a light. He was beautiful, especially in the dark, like he always belonged there. He was truly a shining light in the shadows.

“Hey,” I responded quietly, hoping that maybe if I feigned exhaustion, I wouldn’t have to have the conversation with him. Not tonight. I was tired of talking about my feelings tonight. I just wanted to be in them.

“Thanks for helping with Kelsie and Kinsley,” I offered quietly. He remained in the doorframe, basking in the darkness.

“Hey, Maeve?” he said after a few quiet moments.

“Yeah?”

“Why were you running around the front with just a towel on?” I burst out laughing, unable to keep it in. I looked up at the shadowy figure laughing along with me. I chucked a pillow toward him.

“Get out of here, perv. Stop watching.”

“You must know I have cameras in every corner of the house except your room, yeah?”

“Like even in your room?” Suddenly, I felt embarrassed, like I had just gotten caught.

“Yup,” he said, accentuating the word before chuckling and walking out of the room. “Good night.”

I giggled as I turned around in my bed when I heard the door click.

It had been hours. It must have been hours because I couldn’t sleep. My legs felt restless, my mind was racing, and not even the book I tried to read kept me occupied. I would need so much coffee tomorrow.

I just couldn’t help the thoughts swirling around my head.

I quickly slipped out of bed and walked downstairs. I was curious to see if Christian was still up. I had no idea what I would do if he was, but no one was in his office.

I went back upstairs and opened the door to our connecting bathroom. I didn’t know what I was doing. It was dark and cold in my room. I had only slept in there the other night because I thought I was over this with Christian, but then he came right back into my life like the tornado he was.

And I missed him. Dammit, I hated that I said it aloud, but I missed him. Tonight, he showed me he was trying. I didn’t want to talk. I just wanted to be. I took a deep breath while standing in the shared bathroom and slowly reached toward the doorknob to his room.

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