Page 20 of Charmed and Alarmed

“Okay,” I reply, ensuring my voice carries clearly through the open office door of the man who employs us. “I’m just going to run home to change.”

Killian’s smile widens. “Leave your wallet there. My treat. We have to celebrate your first official night out with Team E, right?”

This, quite literally, couldn’t have gone better.Wow. Apparently the universe has stopped shitting on me, because this feels like a turning point. Mark my internal monologue, it’s all uphill from here.

I’m practically gleeful as I pack up and leave for the weekend, and though I can feel Holden’s eyes burning into my back, I’m careful not to look around. There is absolutely no way I’m going to The Blue Pub tonight, but Killian’s offer was too good a baiting opportunity to pass up. Am I a jerk for blowing him off? Probably. Will I care if this ends in me fucking Holden Ellinger? No way.

It’s possible he knows exactly what I’m doing. The whole reverse psychology play is fairly transparent, but there’s no way for him to knowfor surewhat my intentions are. For all he knows, maybe I really do just want to get laid, and if his dick isn’t available, I’ll move on to the next one.

In reality, I’m just a little too invested to shake off his rejection so easily. If this doesn’t work… Well. I highly doubt I’ll have to cross that bridge, but there are definitely alternate plans I can employ should the need arise. I am nowhere near ready to call it quits. Years of dedication to dance have made me nothing if not resilient, and I hadn’t realized what a void not having a goal has left in my life.

Granted, convincing my father’s business partner to take my virginity isn’t exactly the same thing as becoming a principal dancer in an elite ballet company, but it’s a challenge with the potential for a very satisfying payoff.

I barely need my cane at all as I make my way down the familiar streets between home and E&V, indecently pleased with myself for how the afternoon had gone. When I get back to the apartment, neither Sophie nor Honor is there, and I fire off a group text to confirm there won’t be any unexpected visitors when Holden shows up.

Will you guys be around this weekend?

My sister responds first, and I read the text as I pull off my work clothes, replacing them with my usual home attire.

Honor: No! I’m sorry. Julian and I are in CA for the next few days.

Sophie: Me either. Bram found out I’ve never had lobster rolls, so we’re going to Maine for the weekend.

Honor: I’m sorry we haven’t been around much. Are you guys up for family dinner on Friday? We can host!

Sophie: Just mentioned it to your dad. We’re in!

I’ll be there

Honor: Anything fun going on this weekend, Len?

We’ll see.

Sophie: Very mysterious. I like it. Keep us guessing!

Rolling my eyes, I step back out into the living room, scanning the space with a more discerning eye than I usually employ. Sophie and Honor put some effort into decorating when they moved in here, but it’s verybroke, new college grad chic.

It shouldn’t matter what Holden thinks of the space. After all, he might not even take the bait and show up here. Even so, I find myself gathering up the raccoon-printed throw pillows—obviously purchased by Sophie—and shoving them into the coat closet with the pom-pom lamp and a set of neon pink candlesticks.

When that’s done, I pause in the middle of the room, nibbling on my bottom lip.

Heisgoing to show up, right?

If he doesn’t, should I try again, or get over my newfound thing for my father’s business partner and find somebody appropriate to have sex with. The whole losing my virginity thing hadn’t felt sopressingbefore. It’s not like I don’t get horny, but the little rose shaped vibrator I got at a store in the East Village was all I needed to get over it.

Sex with men came with expectations, complications, and, worst of all, feelings. I didn’t care enough for all that, so I didn’t bother. Until now, when the possibility of Holden Ellinger not wanting me is like a punch to the gut.

Maybe the fact that I want it this badly should be a red flag, but I don’t have time to examine my feelings too closely. Just as I’ve started for the couch, a knock on the door makes my heart stall.

Oh, holy shit.

He came. That’s… It has to be him, right? I limp across the room as quietly as I can to peek through the little spy hole, and yeah, it’s him.

Holden Ellinger is standing outside my apartment door, his hands in his pockets and his expression wooden. I watch him reach up to rake a hand through his hair, glancing back and forth down the hall before reaching out to knock again.

My hand finds the cold metal of the doorknob, and barely able to breathe through the rush of excitement and anticipation, I open it.

“Hi, Holden. Super surprising to see you here.” I lean my hip against the doorjamb, gazing up at him.

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