Page 75 of The Fallacy of True Love
I forced myself to open a fantasy novel, longing for that comforting feeling of slipping out of the cage of my thoughts and sinking into a story.
Before I knew it, my phone was buzzing in my pocket. I pulled it out and accepted the call.
“Maya,” Alonzo said. “I’m turning onto your street.”
“I’ll meet you in front of the building.” Cutting the call, I returned the book to its shelf and hurried outside.
The sky had darkened and the sidewalk was busy with people in business wear marching in opposite directions. As I broke past a group in matching white polo shirts, I spotted Alonzo’s car pulling up along the sidewalk.
The passenger window rolled down. “Get in,” Alonzo called out.
“I just need my bag,” I said as I reached for the back door.
“It’s about to rain. I’ll drop you off at your place.”
A droplet landed on my arm, and more followed in quick succession. Making a split-second decision, I opened the passenger door and got in.
“That was easy,” Alonzo said as I shut the door. “I thought I’d have to convince you.”
“I didn’t bring an umbrella.” I buckled myself in.
“Good thing I’m here then. What’s the name of your hotel?”
“Hotel?”
He paused with his phone in hand and stared at me. “Airbnb?”
I snorted and read out the address of the boarding room I’d booked.
Shaking his head, he typed it into his phone. “I definitely need to check this place out.”
“You don’t need to do anything.”
“Hey, your best friend asked me to look after you,” he said as he started driving.
Damn it, Nikki. “She’s overly paranoid. To make it clear, I’m just going with you out of practicality. I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can, but isn’t it nice not to have to do that all the time?”
“Some of us don’t have a choice.”
“Now you do.”
I opened my mouth to argue that it was well and good but that it would only be for now. Thing was, saying it felt uncomfortably close to admitting vulnerability. I’d already revealed too much earlier this morning.
He glanced at me. “What was that? You were going to say something.”
How could he tell when he was supposed to be paying attention to the road? “I changed my mind.”
“Okay. If you change it again, I’m all ears.”
He spoke so casually that I couldn’t help asking, “That’s it? What happened to the guy who insisted he needed to know why I dropped out of college?”
“I learn from my mistakes. It doesn’t take a genius to know you won’t do anything you don’t want to.” He paused. “Or need to.”
I grunted.
Chuckling softly, he added, “Doesn’t mean I’m not still curious.”
