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Uh-oh, does he think I’m staying at his house long term?
As I follow him down a darkened hall, I remind him, “I’m only going to be here a few days, Arden. Just until I find a decent extended stay hotel that I like. I checked out a few online, but I’d prefer to see them in person before I make a decision.”
I hear him huff as we reach what will be my room…for now.
As he steps inside, he hits a switch that turns on a small lamp on a nightstand next to a full-size bed.
I look around.
The bedroom is nice, decorated in neutral sand and brown tones.
Arden sets my suitcases down on the floor and turns to me. “Yeah,” he says, “about that extended stay hotel idea…”
As he trails off, I state firmly, “Hey, I’m not budging on not living here. I am just not going to impede on your relationship with Willow. It’s too fresh and too new. I mean, shit, you guys just moved in together. So yeah, no”—I shake my head—“there’s nothing you can say to change my mind about living somewhere else.”
There really isn’t, and he knows it. He and Willow should have this time to themselves. My staying here in their space would kind of be like me coming along on their honeymoon.
Eww, no.
Holding up his hands in placation, my brother says, “No, I’m not going to try to change your mind. I know you’re set on not living with us, and I respect that decision. But what if I told you there may be another place, besides a hotel, where you can stay?”
Hmm, this is an interesting turn of events.
Intrigued, I cross my arms and say, “And just where would that be?”
Slowly, like he wants to parse out the details to ease me into the idea, he says, “You could stay at a teammate’s house. One who lives alone, and has a huge place. I think it would work out well. We have plenty of road games, as you know, so you’d have the whole house to yourself a lot of the time. Even when he’s there, this guy is someone I can completely trust.”
Hearing that last part, I scoff. “Someone you can completely trust? What does that even mean, Arden? Do you think I don’t have a mind of my own?”
He levels me with a stern look. “Ellie, you know I don’t mean it that way. I’m just saying that, capable as you are, it makes me more comfortable knowing you wouldn’t have to ward off any unwanted advances. This guy is truly trustworthy.”
Rolling my eyes, I relent. “Okay, okay. I see your point. So who is this ‘truly trustworthy’ teammate you want me to be roomies with?”
I’m imagining it’s one of the few not very attractive guys on the team. I can see Arden thinking I’d not be tempted if the dude’s an ogre.
I’m mildly irritated still.
But then I just about pass out when Arden says, “The teammate I’m talking about is Nils Sten.”
Holy crap!
What?
This could not be any more perfect if I had scripted it. The guy I have my eyes set on, and Arden is serving him up to me on a silver platter.
Hell, yeah!
But I have to play it cool.
If he catches on that I’m in any way attracted to Nils, he’ll call this whole thing off. Arden will be all on board the extended hotel-train, then.
Fuck that.
I’m staying with Nils.
Making a face like I’m deeply contemplating this proposal and not really sure how I feel about it, I say, “Oh, I don’t know. I’d hate to ask that of him.”
“You don’t have to ask,” Arden says. “Nils actually offered.”
