Page 30 of Handsome
We repeated the same pattern and then he asked, “That’s it?”
I pressed my lips together. I was almost finished describing everything in my twenty-four-hour period on a normal day—at least the way it had been until I met him. I blinked and then added, “And I volunteer at the soup kitchen, serving the homeless, but that’s like waitressing for free.”
We twirled together and then he asked, “Weren’t you… bored?”
The beat changed in the song, and we sped up while I said, “Wanting what you have will never happen.”
“I never had to work for anything. If I wanted anything, I’d get it, no strings attached.”
My eyes widened. When I paid my bills and rent at the end of the month, I knew it was my sweat that kept me alive. I cupped his face and asked, “So were you bored?”
“Not exactly,” he said, but then added, “I knew I didn’t want to be like my father, who expected his sons to become financial geniuses like he is and start their own companies. So I studied and studied and studied.”
And school was one area where Leah excelled on her own. So I said, “Now that sounds a little like Leah, though she knew she’d be an ob-gyn right from the start.”
I stilled and my skin grew cold. I hadn’t intended to mention my sister at all.
Her name alone must make him angry.
However, he turned me and said, “So did Elon. But he’s inspired me recently.”
Right. Cyrus basically hadn’t told me a thing, either because he was sweet or because he wasn’t willing to tell me how he felt. I stayed with him, refusing to bring down the conversation again.
Instead, I asked, “Is there anything I can do to help?”
He pressed his lips together but then asked, “Do you know anywhere that could use a heart center where people might not be able to afford it?”
The music slowed, but he dipped me. My heart and body were alive, but I only said, “Come to Queens. We’re up-and-coming, but we still have sick people and ones whose diets are not at all nutritious.”
Then he let me go, and for a second, I was cold as he said, “Thank you for the dance.”
I stepped into the sunny area and watched how our ship left a path of small waves behind it, and the land had receded into the distance.
Being in Cyrus's arms was so natural. Even my skin buzzed while I talked way more than I usually do. When he joined me to gaze across the ocean, I said, “You’re full of surprises.”
He put his hand out in front of me and said, “Now you mention it, I want to show you around while Joshua is asleep.”
Like where I slept sounded important. I decided not to ask, but simply took his hand in mine.
Goose bumps cascaded all over me.
But I followed him because, I was surprised to realize, I trusted Cyrus.
We tiptoed silently through the area where Joshua was sleeping, and Cyrus then led me down a small flight of stairs to a row of rooms that were probably barely big enough to accommodate a bed. He opened one near the back and waited for me to go in. I let go of his hand, walked in and my eyes widened.
All sorts of women’s clothing were lined up on a wall that was clearly a closet. I turned and asked, “What’s this?”
He came up behind me and said, “Some stuff I thought you might need for the island.”
I picked up a pair of shoes while my pulse pounded. I never wanted the signature Manhattanite red sole Louboutin heels, and showed him as I said, “These are all super fancy.”
He gazed at me like he was proud of me and said, “You’ll look great.”
Heat sizzled through me from head to toe, and I closed my eyes. “I can’t—”
He took my hands and I stopped speaking. Then he said, “I ordered this because I want to do something nice for you, not because I expect anything in return but what we've agreed on. I just like seeing you happy.”
I took a deep breath. Cyrus was unlike any man I’d ever known. I cupped his face and said, “Wow, you’re amazing.”
