Page 6 of Did My Heart Love Till Now?

Eyes flickering in annoyance, I hovered my thumb over the screen, uncertain how to respond. Mallory was Joey's crazy ex-girlfriend. I caught her giving another guy a blow job one night and told Joey. Once he confronted her, it resulted in her stalking him after their nasty and dramatic made-for-tv break up. I wish I had recorded the confrontation because it was unbelievable otherwise. The last we heard, she had moved to San Diego. She was like a herpes outbreak, popping up unexpectedly every few months. My hatred for her ran deep.

I peeked at Sofia, understanding I could not tell him the truth. I never kept anything from him, but he would never understand and right now, I did not feel like explaining myself. Maybe I would tell him later after I got the details about Mallory.

I went home with a girl. I replied simply as possible. It was not a lie.

Oh shit, good for you man. TTYL!

Smiling, I returned my phone back to my pocket. I stared out the passenger window. Nothing in me wanted to speak to her but the silence in the car was deafening. I opened my mouth but quickly snapped it closed. Thankfully, we did not have far to go. The car came to a stop in front of the firehouse. Shifting the car in park, she turned to face me. Meeting her gaze, I twisted the corner of my lip into a small smirk.

“This was ass backwards but thanks.” My eyes blinked down toward her hands. "I'm usually the one who takes the girls home. Not the other way around."

“Do you actually live here?” She gasped with a smile as she leaned toward the dashboard, peering up at the building through the windshield.

I shrugged. “Might as well but I only use it for a workspace.”

She flashed a smile at me before returning her gaze toward the building.

“I kind of thought of turning it into my apartment since I spend more time here than at my parents' house.”

Pinning her bottom lip between her teeth, she arched a brow, returning her full attention to me. My eyes fixated on hers. As much as I tried to peel my gaze away, I could not. I tried to just say, goodnight. I attempted to just utter, drive safely. I struggled to make a better choice that night.

“Would you like to see it?” Immediately, I regretted the words as they blurted from my lips.

She nodded excitedly. “I’ve always been in love with this place and never knew what happened to it or who owned it.”

“Come on.” I sighed. Damn you, Sofia.

We stepped out of the car and closed our doors at the same time. Paranoid, I surveyed the area as I ushered her to the building hastily. The moment I felt the click of the lock, I grabbed her elbow and forced her through the threshold.

“What the hell?!” She spun around, hissing.

“Can't take chances being seen with you.” Securing the door, I double checked to make sure we were safe.

“Right.” She rolled her eyes before scanning the long, narrow hallway. The door for a large garage caught her attention.

I shook my head. “The firetrucks are gone.”

“Boooo.” She giggled.

“Up there.” I pointed to the staircase.

Hanging onto the railing, she climbed the steps in front of me. I could not help but watch the way her perfectly rounded bottom shifted as we ascended. I wanted to reach out badly and touch it but refrained. It was the first time I had held back from anything.

We entered the open, arched living space. Reaching over, I twisted on a single lamp. Eyes widened, she ambled in awe toward the middle of the living room. Slowly, she rotated around smiling at the abstract chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling.

“This is gorgeous!”

“It's peaceful.”

“Okay!” She clasped her hands together over her chest. “I have to have a proper tour.” Clearing her throat, she erased the excitement on her face. “I mean, please.”

Fighting back a smile, I guided her to the open concept, modern kitchen. Lightly, she grazed her fingertips on the white and grey, quartz surface of the island. She absorbed every detail of the remodeled space.

“Come on.” Grabbing her hand, I pulled her through the rest of the living area and dining room. Realizing I was touching her, I took a step back, letting go. Gesturing for her to follow me, I took her through the rest of the apartment as rapidly as possible, showing her the three bedrooms, two bathrooms, then brought her back to the living room.

Crinkling her forehead, she glanced around. “Where's the pole?” She raised her eyebrows up and down swiftly, grinning.

Doing my best to refrain from making a dick joke, I nodded toward a divider wall. “Behind there.”

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