Page 57 of The Problem with Princes
I pull a bubble covered hand out of the water and carefully disconnect, sinking down into the warmth one last time before lifting the drain.
Once I’m out of the water, the chill that had seemed to vanish in the tub, settles over me again. I rummage through my suitcase and select the more comfortable, albeit less attractive University of Utah sweatshirt I brought and a pair of leggings. The wooly socks I slip on my feet are the icing on the cake. Texie would be appalled at my choice in evening wear, but I have no plans to tell her about it, so I’m not going to worry.
Precisely an hour after he had dropped me off, a knock sounds at my door. I look down at my clothes and suddenly rethink my clothing choices.
The knock comes again. I rush over and swing it open. One would think I would be used to seeing Ty outside my door, but I’m not. The sight of him still takes my breath away. He is dressed in a worn and faded pair of jeans and a tight-fitting, V-neck, long-sleeved shirt. He reminds me of a J. Crew ad.
I open the door wider, and he steps inside. “I have the TV cued up in the media room, unless you would rather watch somewhere else?”
I run a self-conscious hand down my thighs and then push my sleeves up. “Maybe I should change. I was still a little cold…” I cross my arms over my chest, covering the big U on my sweatshirt.
“Why would you need to change?” He leans in and places a kiss on my cheek.
I close my eyes, remembering the kiss from yesterday and he steps back. “I can make us some coffee, if that would help warm you up.”
I shake my head. “I don’t love coffee, remember? But thanks for the offer.”
We leave my room and head down the hallway. “That’s right. I forgot you’re a weirdo.” He grins down at me.
I smirk. “That’s me.”
He opens the door and leads me into a room where a screen covers the entire wall. There are rows of movie theater-type seats in the back half of the room, and several large, overstuffed couches in the front.
He pulls me toward the couch that is the farthest from the screen and sits down in the middle, throwing his arms onto the back.
I sit down next to him and pull my legs up underneath me. My cold hands disappear into my sweatshirt sleeves.
“Are you cold?” He stands up and fetches a blanket off the arm of the couch in front of us, draping it over my legs.
I pull it up to my shoulders. It tickles my chin and is made of the softest fabric I’ve ever felt.
Settling next to me again, he grabs the remote control from its spot beside him. At the press of a button the lights dim, and the TV flickers on. Jerry Seinfeld is standing paused on the TV in the opening credits of the show.
I look over at him as he types furiously on his phone. I look away, not wanting it to seem like I’m reading his messages.
“Okay. You ready for this?” He sets his phone to the side.
I grin. “I think I should be the one asking that question. I’ve already seen all these like a billion times.”
“A billion?” His brows rise.
“Pretty much.” I nudge him with my shoulder. “There will be a quiz at the end. I hope you’re ready.”
He lifts a notepad and pen. “I have come prepared to take notes.”
The door opens and a maid brings in two insulated cups, like the ones you get from a coffee house, on a tray. “I hope you don’t have an aversion to all hot beverages.” He hands one to me and I sniff at it. He’s watching me with a simple smile, like he knows I’m going to do it and is just waiting to see it. In the stream of light from the hallway, I can make out a small dimple to the side of his left eye. How had I never noticed it before?
“It’s hot chocolate?”
He nods. “Mrs. Doukas makes a delicious cup of hot cocoa.”
I take a tentative sip, testing the heat level. “Mmm. Thisisgood. Thank you.”
The maid closes the door behind her, leaving the room darkened except for the glow of the TV.
He takes a sip of his drink and sits back, his arm still over the back of the couch behind me. He presses a button, and the sound of laughter fills the room as Jerry tells several jokes about the names of cars.
His arm slides down the cushion and settles behind me, his hand cupping my shoulder. He pulls me closer to him.
