Page 44 of Elevator Pitch

She looks in the opposite direction, attempting to hide her smile, but the mirrored reflection on the wall reveals it anyway.

“Have you been drinking, Selah?”

She pinches her fingers together and says, “A little.”

“I thought so. You’re not acting like yourself.”

She clicks her tongue and looks away, mumbling under her breath.

“What was that?”

She just looks up at me innocently with those big eyes and shakes her head.

It sounded like she called me smell good man.

If so, I’m not mad at that.

“Did youhave a good night?”

“I did. I got to wear this pretty dress. I feel like a princess.” She beams.

“You look radiant, and youarea princess. Always up in that tower,” I joke.

She snorts as the elevator stops at her floor, but she doesn’t make her usual run for it. Instead, her feet are planted, and she eyes me curiously.

“What’s on your mind, Princess?” I ask, testing the new nickname on my tongue.

“Will you walk me to my door?” she asks shyly.

I raise my brow and hold out my arm for her to grab onto. She lets out a weary sigh as we step out of the elevator. She asks me about my uneventful night and listens intently. I summarize the events of our superhero movie marathon paired with Hennessy shots, Alex turning in after the ball dropped, and these tacos that randomly appeared. I consider that it’s far too much food to eat alone and hand her a few tacos.

By the time we reach her door, she’s still sorting through her keys until she picks the right one.

She unlocks the door but doesn’t open it. Instead, she turns to face me.

“Thanks,” she says, peering up at me.

I shake my head in response.

“You don’t need to thank me. I do have a question for you though.”

“Shoot,” she says with a flirty smile.

“Didyouget a midnight kiss?”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “No. I’ve never had one of those.”

“Hmm. Were you hoping to get one tonight?”

“Yeah. I hoped I’d meet someone at the party, but I didn’t.”

Her shoulders sink, and she looks down at her feet.

I regain her attention, and we lock eyes; there’s desire in her gaze. I want to kiss her so badly, but we’ve both been drinking. My cravings began with our first date, and it’s been torturous to go without the taste of her. I’ve replayed that moment in mymind far too much to be a drunken regret. I want her to remember and tell me exactly what she wants when the opportunity presents itself again.

So, I lean in and kiss her cheek instead. She shuts her eyes and beams. When I pull back, I’m grinning like an idiot. She lets herself in but gives me one last look before heading inside.

“Happy New Year, Selah.”

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