Page 19 of A Beginner's Guide to Forever
We reach my hotel a few minutes later, and he holds open the door, allowing me to step into the quiet elegance of the lobby.
“Thank you for dinner,” I add, realizing I didn’t thank him. “I wanted to pay for my half.”
He meets my eyes. “It was nothing. Can I walk you back to your room?”
“I’m not inviting you inside.” My voice is unsteady, quiet.
“I know.”
Inside the elevator, my heart is still pounding from the awkward encounter at the restaurant.
“Which floor?” he asks.
“Seven.”
He presses the button, and we wait for the elevator car to ascend in silence.
“Is everything okay?” he asks.
The doors open and I stride out. “I’m confused about your intentions,” I say, walking quickly.
“My intentions,” he repeats, mouth lifting in a smirk. “I thought I’d made it obvious.”
I spin to face him. “Do you have an older-woman fetish?”
“No.” His voice is smooth, confident. “I have ayoufetish.”
I can’t even look at him. His words make me feel completely out of control. Like the world has tipped sideways and I don’t know which way is up anymore.
“Stop and be serious.” I dare a glance at him, lifting my chin to meet his eyes.
“I am being serious. I don’t exactly meet many women like you, Alessia.”
Straightening, I place my hand on my hip. “No, I would imagine not. Most of the others are probably a lot more like Ava.”
“Yes, they are.”
Ouch.It couldn’t have hurt more if he’d physically punched me in the stomach. For a second, I have no reply, almost like the wind’s been knocked out of me.
“Most of the women in my usual circles are self-absorbed and materialistic and can barely hold a conversation.”
“I don’t imagine you and Ava did muchtalking.” I scowl.
“You’d be right.”
I shoot him a look, then I continue walking down the hall.
His hand is on my wrist, grasping it and turning me to face him.
“I’ve never met anyone like you, Alessia.” He takes a step closer, and my back hits the wall. “Will you listen to me? You’re beautiful, brilliant, and incredibly giving. You want to make the world a better place. You’re not afraid to get your hands dirty. You captivate me.”
Another step forward until his chest is touching mine. “You gave me a dollar for the bottle of water,” he adds.
“What?” I’m confused about what this has to do with anything.
“In Nairobi, after you showed me around.”
“It wasn’t a dollar. It was a hundred shillings.”
