Page 14 of Tricking an Introvert

“Yeah, kinda. Michael is indisputably hot.”

He smirked, confirming that his ego didn’t need stroking.

As they kept bantering through their journey, Tessa decided that their strange familiarity and the ease of the conversation were due to the fact that Cole was so out of her league, he didn’t even register as a member of the opposite sex. He was, for all intents and purposes, one of the girls. Tessa decided telling him that he’d gained a metaphorical vagina over the course of an hour and a half car ride wasn’t strictly necessary.

He parked his car a block away from her apartment, and he helped her carry her suitcases. Tessa didn’t think she’d ever be satisfied lugging all her stuff on the train ever again. After one journey in the ease and comfort of a luxurious car, she considered herself spoiled for anything else. Maybe she should hire a chauffeur in the future. Or synchronize with Cole.

“Do you think Michael will go again next year?” she asked as they approached her place.

“Hopefully? Now that he’s done one event successfully, without stressing out, we’ll try to introduce more conventions into his schedule. It’s good for him to show his face from time to time.”

“Awesome!”

She felt somehow awkward now; her little piece of heaven, the apartment she’d bought a year ago, had always been a positive fixture in her life. Now it represented the end of her short acquaintance with Cole.

They’d see each other again, at least if he’d been honest when he’d said he wanted to attend Michael’s sketch session, but over the last couple of days, they’d spent a considerable number of hours hanging out, and that was over.

There was always a time when Tessa had enough of people; it generally happened long before they parted ways. Not this time. She’d miss chatting with Cole.

“That’s it, that’s me.” They’d made it to the brick townhouse on Bleecker Street.

Cole whistled and Tessa grinned in response; her place was whistle-worthy.

“The rent must be killer.”

The rent would indeed have been killer, if she were renting. “My great aunt died childless. She lived pretty modestly, and she’s been investing her cash in all sorts of things since the Cold War. My brother, cousins, and I got everything.”

“Damn. Must be nice.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know, it’s been a little awkward at home ever since. We get a chunk of cash and my mother and uncle get nada? I offered to share but my parents said it was out of the question. So, I just got the ground floor of this house. My friend’s partners are pretty savvy when it comes to finances, and they said real estate was a good bet last year.”

“They were right. Michael also bought his apartment then, for the same reason.”

She transferred her weight from one leg to the next, feeling awkward. “Do you want to come in for a drink? We can drool over the sink. It’s cast iron. Unless cast iron isn’t drool-worthy to you, for some weird reason.”

Tessa was babbling something fierce.

Instead of running the other way screaming, Cole smirked. “I thought you’d never ask.”

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