Page 98 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
“We have lots of things. I don’t mind sharing. Do you like art?” he asked.
“I like art museums in the sense that they tend to have interesting architecture,” I replied. They could keep art museums, too.
“Yes. You’re an engineer. She told me all about the cow-house you designed. I can’t believe you got her a cat.” He shook his head.
“I figured that if I got a cat, it would give her a task to do while house-sitting and make her feel better about not paying rent.”
He nodded. “Ah, yes, I see. That is a sound plan.”
“Also, Snowball is so cute,” I gushed. “Here’s a picture of her sleeping on Gwen.” I showed him the photo I’d taken through her open door the other day.
One thing Gwen had gotten on her trip to Home Things was a net canopy with fairy lights. Most everything was in different shades of purple. She looked like a sleeping princess.
“You’re a good friend to her. I hope you know that,” he told me.
There was something in the way he looked at me that made me all gooey inside.
“I just treat people the way I like to be treated.” I gazed at him right back, hoping he knew that he was included in that sentiment. Something about him awakened instincts in me I’d never felt.
It went beyond crushing on him. It was a sense of rightness. Of belonging.
“Good.”
The air whooshed out of my lungs as he said that.
“I didn’t mean to keep walking in on you. Last time we did the shoot. It was an accident, not some weird flex or power play.” His voice was quiet.
“It’s fine.” My heart fluttered a little, since I hadn’t expected him to bring that up.
I knew it was an accident. They had us changing in these little pop-up tents and it was hard to know if they were occupied.
“Did you like what you saw?” It came out in a bare whisper and I didn’t look at him.
“Yes.”
He liked what he saw? Mmmm. I couldn’t wait to tell Gwen.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Gwen
Restarting the music, I ran through the wedding dance routine one more time in the dance room. The Maimers used it to learn their dance battle numbers before they hit the ice. The Knights also used it for yoga class.
Tens and Clark had left this morning to go to some tropical island for their underwear calendar. Carlos had to go shoot for Monstruo Lane and Dimitri needed to do things. So I was working on the dance we were doing for Celine at JP’s wedding.
Yeah, this was going to be fun.Hard.But fun. I couldn’t wait.
I took a quick shower and changed into one of my cute, but not too fancy, outfits that Valya had gotten me, then fixed my makeup.
Grabbing my backpack, I walked past Constantine’s door, but it was closed. I could give Maddox crickets tomorrow.
I took the subway back toward my old neighborhood. So many complicated feelings washed over me as I stood in front of Chello’s. I hadn’t been here since the day I picked up takeout before Austin and I broke up.
I can do this.
Inside, I saw Lenny already sitting at a table. I let the hostess know and joined him.
“Buttons.” Lenny grinned. His nose was more crooked than mine, and there was a scar on his olive jaw, from when he went cliff diving. Long black hair was up in a ponytail, and he wore a suit that could have paid my rent in my old place for months.
