I keep my mouth shut and nod once, letting her see everything I’m not saying.
Her eyes bounce between mine, back and forth, back and forth, and I know her mind is working.
“Do you think...are you...?” Her voice trails off,
“I fell for you once, Ainsley.” I lift my hand to cup her face. “I don’t think it’d be impossible to fall again.”
Her throat bobs as she swallows.
“Does that scare you?” I ask.
“No.” She pauses. “I mean, it always has, but...it’s different with you.”
My heart thrashes against my chest, and every nerve ending in my body comes alive. “It is different with us, isn’t it?”
Ainsley closes her eyes, leaning into my hand on her cheek. “I don’t want to be with anyone else.”
“I know.” I smile. “Thanks for catching up.”
She smacks my chest and rolls out of bed. “I’m going to pee, and then we’re going to get to work. No more distractions.”
My gaze lingers on the sway of her ass as she saunters into the bathroom. “Then you’re going to have to cover up that sexy body of yours.”
Chapter 34
Ainsley
“How do you feel?”
I push the mascara wand back into the tube, and stare at my reflection in the mirror.
How do I feel?
I’m going on a date with Landon Fletcher.
I flatten my palms on top of the dresser. “Oh, God. What am I doing, Ivori?”
“Okay, okay. Take a deep breath. Forget I asked.” She waves her hands in front of her phone screen. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
I gulp down big breaths, and blow them out through my lips. “This is insane. I spent so much time hating this man, and now I’m going on a date with him? But...I want to. I like him. So, why am I so nervous?”
“The nerves just mean you’re outside of your comfort zone. You haven’t let anyone take you on a date that wasn’t ending in a one-night-stand. But this is Landon, not some meaningless hookup. You’re nervous because you know it’s important.” Ivori dips her head and looks into my eyes. “The universe brought youback together for a reason, so you can both finally move past what happened between you and be happy together.”
“What if I can’t do this? What if I’m not good at relationships and I end up hurting Landon? Or what if he realizes he misses being in California, and he wants to go back?”
Ivori’s head tilts. “Is that what this is about? You’re worried he’s going to leave again?”
I hike a shoulder. “I think I’m just worried about everything. I’ve never done this before. God, it’s so much easier being a bad bitch. Why did I have to go and catch feelings? Is this what it’s like for you people? You enjoy this?”
Ivori cackles. “Welcome to the world of dating, my love.” Her laughter fades as she sobers. “Take it one day at a time. Tonight, you’re going on a date with Landon. Tomorrow, you’re painting your bedroom. Don’t think about what’ll happen after that. Just focus on tonight.”
I nod, chewing on my bottom lip. “Okay.”
The doorbell chimes, and my shoulders hike up to my earlobes. “Oh, fuck. He’s here.”
“Relax.” She chuckles. “Go enjoy yourself. You deserve to have some fun.”
My heart gallops into my throat, and I swallow it back down.
