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I hugged him. “So, how was the bachelor party when y’all went outside?”
His mother said, “We all need to get some rest for tomorrow,” and the party started dispersing.
Kir said to me, “It was mostly just to talk to Elon about how he fooled us all for years.”
“He did?”
Charlie pointed to Kir and another room. Kir shook his head and stayed with me. “Clarissa’s parents worked for my parents when we were kids, and she was very much like a sister to most of us. I had no idea they had a romantic history and had a son until he brought them home a few months ago.”
Wow. My brow furrowed. I remained pressed against him as I said, “Wait. That sounds scandalous for your sweet family.”
He held me. “It’s all good.”
Clarissa waved for us to go with her. “There you two are. Let me show you to your room.”
My heart raced as we walked with her. I swallowed. “I can bunk with my friends.”
Clarissa shrugged as we headed up the stairs. “We’re not prudes, Avril. We all know you’re living with Kir.” As we made it to the second floor, she held the door for me. “So, this is your room.”
I tensed. There was only one queen-sized bed with a white sheet. “Shouldn’t the bride have people helping her so you don’t have to escort us around?”
She hugged me. “Don’t be silly. Kir is family, and maybe one day you’ll be my sister.”
As she let me go, I instantly hoped she was super happy. “Oh, Clarissa, you’re sweet.” As she left and Kir closed the door behind me, I said, “So, we’re bunking together.”
He took off his suit jacket and hung it in the closet that was filled with clothes. Hope had mentioned at the last wedding that she’d been given a choice of designer outfits, so I assumed those nice dresses were for me, but I didn’t ask.
“I’ll take the floor,” he said.
When Kir faced me, my body was alive with anticipation. I said, “Your brother is getting married tomorrow.”
He raised his eyebrow. “So?”
I lifted my chin. “I… we’ll make a wall of pillows, but you need to sleep on the bed.”
He widened his stance like he was going to continue his protests. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
This wasn’t an argument we needed. I sat back on the bed and wished he was mine. That kiss earlier still made my heart flutter, but he had no idea I’d meant it.
I asked, “Are you repulsed by me?”
He sat across the room and stared. It was like he saw into my soul and not just my body. “You know that’s not true.”
I sucked in my breath. Time to tell him how I feel. “Then sleeping next to me for a night or two shouldn’t be an issue.”
He laughed. “I’m not going to fight you.”
“Good.” I jumped up, not quite sure why his being near me was setting me off so much. And I probably needed a few minutes. “I’ll take a shower first, and then we’ll switch.”
I grabbed pajamas with shorts and a shirt, rushed in, and closed the door. I’d never told a guy I was into him first. This was new and I’d been tongue-tied.
I quickly took a shower. I wished had Britney’s confidence. She always knew what to say to get what she wanted.
His kiss burned through me still. I sighed and finished brushing my hair then popped my head out the door and smiled at him. “Your turn.”
Then I sprinted to the bed. My skin was all jittery like I was some virgin bride, which made no sense. I heard the water and tried to read a book on my phone, but every word just made me think about Kir. I sucked in my lips.
As the door opened, I sat up and turned my phone off entirely. My eyes widened. He’d thrown on sleep pants with no shirt as his preparation for bed. Those hard muscles of his were on full display and sent a thrill through me. Without a word, he walked toward the bed.
