Page 54 of Waiting for Acceptance
“A shower with room for two, why am I not surprised?” I scoff, immediately embarrassed when I realize I said that out loud.
Oh my god, I have got to stop doing this. Especially around him.
I quickly turn and walk towards the vanity, getting myself far away from the shower and, by association, any stupid comments that may come flying out of my filterless mouth. I stop at the counter and my eyes immediately find Fitz’s in the reflection, like a moth to a dark-haired, blue-eyed flame. He slowly walks up behind me, stopping just short of his body touching mine. His head tilts to one side, his eyes lazily raking over me. Then he reaches up, silently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, andI completely stop breathing. The feather-like touch of his finger brushes my jawline, and my stupid eyes flutter closed. The heat from his body disappears before I finally open them again, and I find him standing in the doorway, smirking at me.
“Enjoy your shower.”
“I still have to grab my stuff.” I start walking towards the door but stop when he stands up taller.
“I can bring it to you.” I narrow my eyes at him and cross my arms over my chest.
“You’re gonna bring my stuff into me…while I’minthe shower? Absolutely not. We’refakedating, Fitz, remember? Seeing me naked isnotpart of the agreement.” That smirk of his is back, with the hint of devilishness that makes me weak in my stupid knees.
“If I wanted to see you naked, Sweetheart. I’d only have to close my eyes.” My mouth pops open as he walks away. He returns a moment later with my bags, setting them outside the door with a knock before disappearing into another part of the apartment. I hate that he remembers that night and I don’t. Not entirely, at least. Sure I had parts of it come screaming back to me after running into him that night at the saloon, but he seems to have a much more solid memory of it and I wish I could just crawl through his brain and see it through his eyes.
“When you’re done, I’d also like a chance to shower. Before the hot water runs out.” I roll my eyes and lock the door. Barely catching the last thing he says before I head for the shower. “Mind those eyes, Trouble.”
Un-freaking-believable.
Well, he was right about one thing—the water pressure in here is enough to make up for there not being a soaking tub. I take a deep breath as I step out of the shower, letting the eucalyptus scent from my shampoo fill my senses. I can’t accurately describe the sensation I get from having minty freshhair, but it’s invigorating. I don’t even feel like I’ve been up since five AM. I’m wide ass awake now and somehow, hungry again. I finished applying my lotion, moisturizer, and frizz-control hair oil before realizing I only brought my hygiene bag into the bathroom. Meaning all of my clean clothes are in the bedroom. I unlock the door and swing it open, drawing in a sharp breath when I see Fitz filling the doorway.
“Jesus Christ, have you been standing there this whole time?” I hear him inhale, watching as his nostrils flare and his eyes darken before I realize I’m standing in front of him in nothing but a towel. I hug it closer to me as if it will help combat whatever thoughts are swarming his mind right now, and try to explain. “My clothes are in there.” I nod to my suitcase lying open on the floor behind him. He lets out a noise that is something between a growl and a hum, inching closer to me.
“If you don’t want me to see you naked, Trouble, take your clothes with you when you shower.” He moves past me into the bathroom, causing me to robotically turn, switching places with him. I narrow my eyes, ready to mouth off to him—maybe ask why the hell he was trying to become one with the fucking door before I was even out of the bathroom—but I catch the slightest glimpse of a tortured look in his eyes that causes me not to.
“Uh. Sorry,” I whisper before he slams the door in my face.
That’s fair.
I’m still not sure where I stand with Fitz. I’ve spent so long hating him for coming to Coleson’s the way he did, for lying, for micromanaging the ever-lovinghellout of me, and the way his arrogance seems to carry him through life.
Never mind. I remember exactly where I stand with him.
So why the fuck did I agree to be his fake girlfriend for a year?
“Ugh!” I turn around, grabbing my vintageJourneyT-shirt, underwear, and pair of shorts from my bag before opening mytowel to change. As soon as I begin to drop it, the bathroom door swings open again.
“Did you?—”
“Fitz!” I screech, quickly wrapping the towel back around me. I spin to face him, thanking the universe that I was atleastturned away from him, and see his jaw hanging open. “What?!”
“Sorry. I thought I heard something.” My eyes pop as he stares at me hungrily.
“I was airing out my frustrations.” His brows furrow and he doesn’t say anything in response. “Is it safer if I get myself dressed in the living room?”
“Probably so.”
“Fantastic.” I snatch my clothes from the bed and storm into the living room, slamming his bedroom door shut behind me.
This was a horrible idea.
CHAPTER 29
FITZ
Why I thought this plan would go smoothly is absolutely beyond me. It’s one thing to have to share an apartment with only one bed with her, but sharing a shower, having her scent cover every inch of this place, and seeing her in nothing but a towel is enough to kill me. I’m never washing my sheets after she sleeps in my bed if it smells the way she did when she walked out of this bathroom.
God, she looked beautiful.
