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“What? Twitterpated?”
“Oh, that’s an awful word. But yes.”
“Because you finally get to suffer like the rest of us. Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Yes, so wonderful. Will you tell him I’ll be out in fifteen minutes?” I ran into the bathroom and shut the door. I was so intent on getting ready—washing my hair, styling my hair, washing my face, putting on makeup, that I had no time to think about the moment when Denver and I would see each other. I just ran out to the living room with my shoes in hand, and there he was. Fitted tee, jeans, smile. His smile was the best, and also the worst. When he smiled at me like that I couldn’t not smile back like an idiot.
We’d said THINGS last night. Admitted things. Like the way we felt about each other. And now I was seeing it reflected in his eyes, and I couldn’t move. Or talk.
“Come here.” He patted the cushion next to him.
I shook my head no. Normally, I’d say something snarky, like how he wasn’t the boss of me, but I couldn’t even manage that.
Denver stood up and stalked toward me. Oh, I was in for it now and I wasn’t even sorry. Friend plans? Who needed those? But all he did was gently take my hand. “Let’s go feed you.”
“Okay.”
“Do you want to drive?”
Normally, yes. Right then, no. I shook my head. “You drive this time. I’ll terrify you later.”
“Sounds good.”
I dropped my shoes at my feet and slid into them. They were my slides—cute, but still comfortable and practical, the way everything should be. Denver held the door open for me. I locked up the apartment and then took his hand again. It was warm and strong, and with it laced with mine, it made me feel like I could face anything. The truth of it just about knocked me over. I’d fallen for him a lot earlier than I’d thought. Back when taking his hand meant acknowledging I was craving affection, that wasn’t totally accurate. I didn’t want affection from just anyone. I wanted it from him and only him, and that had me staring at our hands and not moving.
Denver gave me a little shoulder nudge. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just processing.” It was a Stinton word—one I had a feeling I’d be using a lot more. “I need to run by the bank—” I stopped short as Makayla stepped out of her apartment two doors ahead of us.
When she turned and spotted us in front of my door, my instinct was to drop Denver’s hand, but his hold on mine tightened.
Makayla put on this weird, forced smile, and waited on her doorstep so we’d catch up and have to stop and talk to her. It was the opposite of what I would have done, because she was my opposite in every way. I wouldn’t have smiled at my ex in a situation like this. And I surely wouldn’t stand waiting for the chance to talk to him and his new love interest.
Now I was thinking about being a love interest and that was not helping my state of mind.
“Hi, you two.” She gave a little wave.
“Hi, Makayla.” I gave her my friendliest smile. I didn’t want this to be awkward for her. Even though it was. This was so awkward for so many reasons.
“My word, look at this.” She stared at our connected hands. “Sorry, I’m just trying to wrap my mind around it. Congrats.”
“Um, thanks.” Why was she congratulating me? Denver and I were only friends today, per our agreement. Tomorrow, all bets were off. He hadn’t said that, but I heard it all the same. It was pretty much all I’d been thinking about.
“We’re on our way to run errands,” I added, just to fill the silence.
“Fun.” Makayla looked up at Denver, her forehead wrinkling slightly. “Everything makes so much sense now. So, um, I should let you two go.” With a final nod, she took off down the hallway and out into the parking lot.
I swear, right then, somewhere a balloon lost its air with a big, sad fart noise. I didn’t know what to say, and Denver said nothing. He just stood there with my hand.
“That was bad,” I finally admitted.
“So bad. Are you mad at me?”
“No, not at all.” I turned to look at him. “Her existence as your ex doesn’t bother me. I just want to know what’s going on in your head right now.”
“I’m thinking about how much I don’t want to screw this up with you before it even starts.”
“Good thoughts. Breakfast?”
