Page 36 of I Can't Help It

I wasn’t being that loud though.

“Sorry,” I apologize to her. But she just shushes me again.

“The good part is coming up!”

Judging by the shirtless cowboy on the front of her paperback, I don’t know if I want to be around while she reads “the good part.”

That’s just too freaking awkward.

I put the color book on the shelf where I found it, and then I avoid her narrowed eyes as I duck out of the room. If looks could kill, I’d be a goner right now.

I guess I should get our stuff from the car. Ava will probably be awake soon, right?

Yeah, I’m sure she will be.

It doesn’t take me long to grab our luggage, but then I hesitate outside the door of our room. I mean, THE room. Not our room.

Should I knock first? Just to give her a warning that I’m coming in? I don’t want to make her uncomfortable or anything.

What if she’s still napping though? I don’t want to wake her up either.

Dang it, let’s just go in there and hope for the best.

Ava

Click.

The sound of Luke unlocking our room should excite me to infinity and beyond, but all I feel is dread. Lots and lots of dread.

I thought it would be a GOOD thing if I told him that spending time together outside of the office has been nice! But then he started choking and coughing like I said something terrible or inappropriate. Plus, there was the lovely part where he pretended to go use the bathroom because he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.

Listen, I’m not one to usually get flustered.

However, I was so embarrassed by what happened in the dining area that I didn’t even want to face him. I think it was even more humiliating than my shower accident.

Which is why I left him the sticky note and came up here.

I didn’t get to nap though. I was too busy sulking about his response toward me. I also didn’t want to end up with an eye infection from sleeping with my contacts in. I watched a video about that once, and it scarred me for life.

“Oh, you are awake.”

I keep my eyes glued to my phone as I continue to play LittleVille. I almost have enough points to build a new park for my villagers; and since THEY didn’t make me feel like an idiot, THEY are the ones who get most of my attention.

“Yep.”

He clears his throat some. “Are you feeling any better?”

No. I feel like the guy I have a huge crush on keeps sending me mixed messages and I don’t know what to do about it.

The whole situation is very frustrating.

“I’m fine.”

I would ask him how he’s doing after his choking/coughing fit, but he’s had almost an HOUR to recover without being stuck around me…so I’m sure he’s doing just swell.

“I got our luggage,” he says, and I can see the suitcases and his legs using my peripheral vision. “I don’t know if you’re ready to unpack, but…”

I finally look at him.

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