Page 23 of Two Is Better Than One

"I don't know. Me?"

Chapter 10

Allie Stockton

The tension between AJ Cameron and me was absolutely palpable. We were basically in an argument, and I could do nothing to fix it. My sister had obviously been with Casey at his apartment, which was news to me until that very moment.

AJ was brooding about me paying attention to other men. I was innocent of it, and I stood my ground as best I could without giving him the whole truth. It was a heart-pounding moment for me, and I was so overwhelmed that all I could do was stare out of the window like I didn't care about him at all. The opposite was true. I was heartbroken that things weren't going to work out as planned for us this weekend.

My sister would soon have another guy looking out for her instead of Casey, and my time getting to know AJ would come to an end. I knew that would happen eventually, but I was brokenhearted about not spending the day with him today. I had really hoped that we would spend some time alone after the brunch. I woke up early and got dressed for him, and now all I could do was remember the heartbreaking moment when he told me he had things to do today and needed to get home.

We rode back to the hotel in silence. I figured he wanted an explanation about why I had been with his cousin, and I knew I couldn't say too much about it since I knew nothing. Usually, Summer told me everything that happened while she went out dressed as me. We did this so our stories would line up. She had not, however, mentioned going to Casey's apartment. She didn't tell me much about her day at all—other than the fact that she went to a church. Her details were vague. I had been reading a dark novel while she was out, but I did remember thinking that she seemed extra bubbly when she got back. I thought it was just the contrast of my mood after reading that book all afternoon.

I had a lot on my mind during our trip back to the hotel, and I was sad when we pulled up and I realized AJ would be leaving. "You have my number, Allie."

"Yeah, I have it still," I said. "What are you doing?" I asked when I saw him pull into the parking garage. "You can just drop me off."

"I'll walk in with you," he said. "Unless you don't want me to."

"No, it's fine. But I know you have to go since you're busy today."

AJ parked in a parking spot and we both got out and headed toward the elevator. "I don't have anything to do today," he admitted, finally.

We stayed quiet until we were in the hallway that would take us into the hotel. We walked next to each other, not saying a word. The tension was thick. I was swimming in a sea of self-doubt and regret with AJ, and I could do nothing but walk next to him and pretend I was quiet and neutral.

There were others in the hallway, so I stayed quiet while we passed them. I knew of a seating area that was downstairs where there was hardly any traffic. I walked that way and then I went to a couch that was in a group of furniture in a secluded living room type of area. A news show was playing on the television and I ignored it and went to sit on the couch.

"Summer and Brooks are going to be in the room when we get there, so I figure we can stop here and talk for a second."

"Good," AJ said. "I wanted to stop. I need to clarify that I'm not going anywhere after this. I said that because that artist was bugging me, and honestly, I think my cousin likes you. I can't ignore that. I saw you guys together, and even if you don't… I saw how he was looking at you. You have to understand that Casey and I are close, and it would be hard for me to go behind his back and—"

"AJ." I said his name, cutting him off.

He regarded me, those ice-blue eyes cutting through me. I felt oddly connected to AJ. I knew that if we stood up from this couch, he would walk me to my room, and he would leave. I wanted to say anything to stop that from happening.

"I have something I want to tell you," I said. I stopped and asked myself if I should tell him. I knew I would be going back to South Carolina soon, and I wondered if this moment with AJ was worth risking at all. I contemplated that and then I made the conscious decision to keep on talking. "AJ, if I were to ever tell you something in confidence, could you never repeat it to anyone?"

"Yes," he said. "You can trust me." He stared at me with a curious, almost concerned expression.

I loved the way he looked, I scanned his face as he sat on the couch. I wished I could reach out and touch him, just rest my fingertips on his arm.

"What does AJ stand for?" I asked. "I know a hundred other things about you, and I have no idea what your name is."

"Adam James."

"Hmm," I said thoughtfully, trying not to smile. I loved his name. I loved the sound of him saying it.

"What are you telling me in confidence?" he asked. I looked at his face and thought about his personality and tried to gauge how much I wanted him. The answer was that I couldn't recall a time when I had ever been so tempted by a man. We were tucked away in a comfortable nook of a nice hotel, and I felt safe—like no one could hear me and that AJ would tell no one else. I felt a rush of excitement at the thought of telling him a secret we had buried for so long.

"It's a big deal that I am thinking about telling you this. No one knows. If I tell someone, and they tell someone else, then we get found out. The next thing you know, a wig comes off in public. It would all be horrible."

"What are you saying?" he asked.

"I'm saying I might have been with your cousin the other night, but it wasn't me. My sister went out as me."

"Are you saying my cousin was with your sister in a wig?"

I studied the look on his face when he asked it. He was gorgeous, and I focused on his blue eyes, wishing I could dive into them. I wished I could have a baby with him just so it would inherit those eyes. I coughed and looked away when that thought crossed my mind.

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