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“I love you.”
“Love love,” she says with a frustrated sigh before ending the call.
Two steps forward and three fucking steps back.
* * *
STELLA
I check into my hotel for my weekend away, not knowing what to expect. Nolan has had to work long hours, late nights and traveling every few days for the past few weeks. We’ve hardly seen or talked to one another besides texts here and there. We’re like two ships passing in the night.
Then, yesterday, James didn’t show up at the Burned Bean for our usual coffee date. The barista handed me a toffee nut latte and an apple cinnamon muffin that he had apparently ordered and paid for earlier in the day with a simple note written on the bag. “Sorry I had to bail. Adulting sucks ass.” I laughed before blinking back tears that were forming in my eyes and threatening to fall.
The last time James and I spoke, he still wanted to meet to draw me again, but since he bailed on coffee, I wasn’t sure if that was still happening or not. All I did know was that I needed this weekend, and I was trying not to get my hopes up too much with seeing him.
Turning on music and sipping wine straight from the bottle, I begin unpacking my bag. Flicking through the channels on the TV once I finish, I switch from singing Katy Perry to The Hangover. A third of the way through my bottle of wine, I decide I need to eat something. I’m debating between ordering a pizza to gorge on in self-pity or fancy room service when someone knocks on the door.
Butterflies swirl in my stomach as I walk to the door, hoping I’m right in who is on the other side. I don’t bother looking through the peephole, pulling it open while holding my breath.
There he is, head bowed, looking shy and sexy when he peeks up at me with a big lopsided grin on his face. “Hi.”
“Hi,” I reply, biting my lip to hold back from my face splitting into a smile that was growing by the second.
We stare at each other for too long, but neither of us cares or moves. He breaks first, asking if he can come inside.
Stepping aside, I let him in. When the door closes, I turn toward him and leap into his arms. Chuckling into my hair, he holds me tight against him. “What’s this for?” James asks.
“I’m happy you’re here. I had a shit week,” I confess, sliding down to my feet.
His brows crease as he considers my words. “I’m sorry.”
“It happens.” I shrug. “But. Good timing. I was just debating what to get to eat. Pizza or room service?”
“Why not both?”
“If I were still eighteen and had a killer metabolism, I’d say you were smart, but I’m not and I don’t, so we choose,” I laugh.
His eyes do a perusal of me from head to toe and back up again. “I think you’re doing alright.”
My cheeks flair red. “Are you hungry?” I ask, trying to move past his comment.
“I can always eat,” he says, plopping down on the bed next to me.
An hour later, I’m laughing so hard I’m coughing as I finish the last of my third piece of pizza. I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time, and it feels so good to relax and let go. The wine helps too.
After he saw my open bottle of wine, he left in search of beer while I waited for the pizza. He came back with another bottle of wine for me and a twelve-pack for himself.
“Alright, you’ve eaten, you’re relaxed on wine. Can I draw you now?” he asks, standing up and wiping his hands down the front of his jeans that hug his muscular thighs just right.
“Yes,” I say, standing up too. “Do you want my shirt off again, perv?” I taunt, pulling the hem of my shirt up enough to show a peek of my stomach.
“Actually, I wanted to know if I could draw you nude.” His cheeks tint pink, and my eyes go wide. No amount of wine could have prepared me for that. “Not full frontal!” he amends. “I’d like you nude, yes, but on your stomach and from the side.” He scratches nervously at his chin. “What do you think?”
My own nerves have me biting my lip hard as I contemplate what he’s asking me to do. “Okay,” I say quietly. I mean, he drew me in my underwear last time; this isn’t really all that different.
After taking one last gulp of wine, I begin to undress. I kick out of my jeans and remove my shirt next. I’m standing in my underwear when I look up and see him watching me, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows. Turning around, I push my panties down, stepping out of them when they hit the floor. I give him a smirk over my shoulder before unhooking my bra and letting it join the rest of my clothes at my feet.
Kneeling on the bed, I feel his gaze burn my skin. Taunting him, I sway my ass in the air as I crawl into the middle of the bed like he had asked. I’m sure it’s the wine talking, but for now, I’m loving how I feel in this moment.
