Page 21 of One Night Valentine

I disconnect the call with my agent and sit on the edge of the couch. I arrived at the hotel three hours ago. I texted Tara to let her know I was here and my room number, but I haven’t heard back from her. After unpacking, I’ve been on one call after another. Endorsement deals are still coming in, and that’s a relief. I also signed a seven-figure deal for my book. As soon as I signed it, I wanted to call Tara and tell her about it, but instead I continued working, knowing that I’ll see her soon.

Just as I am about to call Tara, there’s a knock on my door.

Thinking it’s something my agent was having couriered over, I swing the door open, and Tara is standing in front of me with one hand holding a garment bag and the other hand on a wheeled suitcase. “Hey!”

She huffs, and it’s obvious the clothes are heavy in her arms, so I take them from her. “You okay?”

She looks down the noisy hall. “Yeah, can I come in?”

With her garment bag in my hand, I stand back to let her in, closing the door behind her.

I hang her clothes in the closet, and when I look at her, I know something’s wrong, but I don’t have to wait long to know what it is, because she starts to ramble. “Okay, so I guess myroom was given away. Grant’s brother Ben was able to make it to the wedding. It's not his fault, he’s a good guy, but they didn’t reserve him a room. So my sister gave him my room, and I’m supposed to room with my parents, but I can’t do it, Cruz. There’s no way I’ll last a night in their room with them.” She takes a deep breath. “And I know this seems all weird seeing as how I basically threw myself at you on the phone last night and you turned me down. Look, I know where we stand. I know we’re friends, so as friends, can you let me crash—” She looks around the room. “Geez, this room is big. Can I crash on your couch?”

When she stops talking, I blurt out, “You threw yourself at me?”

She releases her grasp of the suitcase and puts her hand on her hip. “Really? Everything I just said and that’s what you got?”

I grab her clothes from the closet by the door and then walk over and grab her suitcase. “Yes, you can stay. But you don’t have to stay on the couch. There’s two bedrooms.”

“You have two bedrooms?”

I walk to the second bedroom, and she follows. “Yeah, it was the only room they had left when I called yesterday.”

I hang her clothes in the closet and set her suitcase up on the luggage rack and point to the door off from the bedroom. “There’s a bathroom in there.”

She holds her hand up. “Cruz, how much did you pay for this room? You know what? Forget it. I’m never going to be able to pay you back, but I’ll pay you what I was going to pay for my room. What’s your Venmo, CashApp, or PayPal?”

I walk over to her and put my hands on her shoulders. “Sweetie, you gotta calm down. You’re so worked up.”

She takes a deep breath and nods her head. “You’re right, and I know you’re right. This whole thing has turned me inside out.”

“Do you still love him?” I blurt out.

She scrunches her nose up. “Who? Grant? No, and I don’t think I ever did.”

I cross my arms over my chest because if I keep touching her, I’m going to kiss her. “He isn’t happy, you know that, right? I saw the way he was looking at you at dinner. He wants you back.”

Her eyes widen. “He tried calling me last night, but I didn’t answer the phone and didn’t respond to his text. I would never go back to him.”

I survey her face, hoping what she’s saying is the truth. “Okay, so the plan is still on?”

She looks disappointed but nods her head. “Yeah, the plan is still on.” She looks at her phone. “And the rehearsal starts in thirty minutes. I need to get ready.”

With that, I walk to the bedroom door. “I’ll be ready. Meet you in the living room?”

She nods. “Yeah, I’ll meet you in the living room.”

I shut the door behind me and finally let out a big breath. The whole time I’m around her I’m holding back, and it’s getting old. A part of me is ready for the whole wedding show to begin so I can hold her and kiss her the way I want. People will be watching, and we have to act like a couple.

When it’s time to meet, I stand in the living room of the hotel, looking out the window while I wait for Tara. I do all the things I should be doing. I remind myself that she’s my sister’s best friend, she’s too young for me, and she’s off limits.

When I hear the door open, I think I’m prepared, but one glance at her lets me know that there’s nothing I can do to resist her. Tara is my kryptonite.

Speechless, I walk toward her, my mouth hanging open as I look her up and down. She’s wearing an off the shoulder dress that hugs every curve of her body. With a husky whisper, I tell her, “Fuck, you’re beautiful.”

She waves me off with a laugh. “Whatever, you don’t have to?—”

I cut her off. “How can I not tell you? Evey man there tonight is going to be thinking the same thing.”

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