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“I can hear you thinking.”
I look up. Derek holds his room card in his hand. He’s smiling at me softly. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Are you sure?”
No.
“Yes.”
He purses his lips and observes me with too-knowing eyes. “We don’t have to do anything, Liv. We can just hang out, or we can call it a night.”
That’s the last thing I want.
“Let’s go inside,” I say, hoping to salvage the situation my nervousness is trying to ruin. “We can have another drink.” Maybe alcohol will help numb my nerves so I stop blowing this moment I’ve been waiting for my entire life.
Derek watches me for another beat, then nods. “Okay.” He opens the hotel room and gestures for me to go inside.
I walk in and whistle low as I take in the massive space with finer furnishings than the ones found in my room located two floors down. “Wow. This is fancy.”
“It’s a junior suite.” Derek walks to the beverage fridge sitting on the counter in the kitchenette. “All I have is wine.”
I pull out the stool tucked under the countertop separating the kitchenette from the room’s sitting area and sit down. “Wine is good.”
“Red or white?”
“White.”
Derek opens the fridge to retrieve a bottle. He opens it and pours two glasses. Mixing alcohol isn’t usually my thing. I learned my lesson from one too many hangovers in college, but I need something to do with my hands. Otherwise, I’ll be all fidgety and weird and Derek will regret inviting me up here.
He stands on the other side of the counter and hands me a glass. “Cheers.”
“Cheers.” We tap our glasses and then take a sip. I keep mine pressed to my lips for longer than necessary, desperately trying to buy time to think of what I should say or do next.
“Did you have fun tonight?” Derek asks.
I lower the glass and swallow the measly amount of liquid I sipped. “I did.”
“You?”
“I did.” He stares at his glass and swirls the liquid. “I’m happy for Avery. And Adam.”
“Yeah.” I smile as I remember Adam’s expression when he first saw Avery appear at the end of the sandy aisle. There’s no doubt he’s madly in love with the oldest Lawson sibling. They both seem happy.”
“They do,” he agrees.
Silence follows. And I’d do anything to make this awkwardness go away. It hadn’t existed all evening, and I hate that it decided to show up now.
“You still haven’t told me what you were thinking.”
I straighten. “What?”
“Back in the hall.” Derek motions towards the front door. “You were thinking about something.”
I debate saying he’s imagining things, but maybe open dialogue will clear the air between us. “I guess I’m just nervous.”
“About what?”
