Page 68 of Why Not Us?

“Mm. Yes. Like that.”

She kisses me again and the knowledge that she’s still naked under that robe has me aching for her. I break away.

“Fuck, Adalie. I have to go to work.”

She laughs, bringing me back for another swift kiss. “Who’s stopping you?”

Then she lets me go and we get dressed. She follows me down to my bike, taking the visitor pass and sliding it into her sweater pocket.

“Are you going home to change?” she asks.

“No time. I should have asked Taylor to bring me some extra clothes.”

She smiles and flushes that cute pink. “Sorry. I guess that’s my fault.”

I wrap my arms around her, loving how she melts into me, tilting her face up to accept my kiss. “I’d rather be late, dressed in yesterday’s clothes, than leave before I have to.” I stroke my thumb over her cheek. “Thank you. For understanding about Dani.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

Taylor:

You’re late. Quit fucking your girlfriend and get to work.

Me:

I’m on my way.

I pocket my phone and grab my helmet. “I guess this means when Taylor jokes about you being my girlfriend, I can’t say you’re not anymore.”

She grins. “I guess not. And I can’t tell my friends you’re not my boyfriend when they tease me.”

I cup the back of her head, stealing one more kiss before I put on my helmet and climb on my bike. “I’ll call you tonight, princess. Have a good day.”

I ride away from her through the underground parking lot, watching her in my side mirror until I turn onto the road and she disappears.

Chapter 21

Adalie

When he calls that night, he tells me Taylor had brought him extra clothes without being asked and that Dani got settled in fine. I tell him about yoga with Vic, and how we went for sushi after. We talk so long, I fall asleep with him on the phone, something he teases me about by text the next day.

When I tell my friends that Nate and I started dating, Lis gives me a high five and Spencer hands Derek a twenty-dollar bill. Apparently, they’d bet on how long it would take. Spencer had bet middle of summer. Derek had bet before summer started. Everyone loves my new tattoo, all of them saying how well it suits me.

By Thursday, I’ve been distracted all day by my excitement and nervousness at seeing Nate again. Then everything is thrown off when my brother comes into my office near the end of my day.

“Hey, Addie,” he says, startling me and causing me to jump in my chair.

He chuckles as he comes in and sits across from me before I invite him to.

Denise is at the door, obviously having led him to me. “Is there anything I can get you and your brother, Ms. Murphy?” she asks.

She never calls me Ms. Murphy—we’re rather informal with our staff—but she’s also heard a few stories about my family. I smile at her appreciatively.

“Thank you, Denise. I’d love a tea, please. Elliot?”

“Coffee. Black, two sugars,” he says, not bothering to look at Denise when he says it.

She lifts an eyebrow toward me but doesn’t comment. Once she’s gone, I turn to my brother.

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