Page 55 of A Lot Like Love
“Thanks. I’ve been crashing on Shelly’s sofa so she’ll be happy to know I’ll be gone for longer.”
“And I can officially thank her for giving me your number that day.”
Chloe’s mouth tilted up into a smile. “I still haven’t officially kicked her butt for that. Although after I pretended I was just going to stay with you a couple days, she’ll kill me when I tell her where we’ve been.”
“Don’t be too hard on her. I’ll be eternally grateful.”
“She would have told me not to go to Vegas. She knows about my dad.”
“What will she say when she knows you’ve been with me?”
Chloe didn’t answer for a moment. “She’ll be happy that I’ve finally let someone get close to me.”
She looked up under hooded lashes, not saying anything, but her gaze told it all. The fire between them had only just been ignited, and it was going to take more than a few short weeks in bed together to put out the blaze.
“Are we?” he asked, needing to know how she felt. “Close?”
Chloe met his gaze. “Yeah. I think we are.”
Ryder looked around the apartment and she watched him cringe. “How long have you been crashing here?”
Chloe shrugged. “A while.”
She finished packing her bag and nudged it in his direction.
“She said she’d be back before…” A thump signaled Shelly was back and Chloe grinned. “Speak of the devil.”
“You’re calling me the devil?” Shelly burst into the room, larger than life as usual, throwing her arms around her in a big hug. “You’re the one running off with a boy and not answering your phone.”
Chloe grinned. “We were kind of in Vegas.”
“Oh my god, don’t tell me you guys got hitched?”
“I’ll wait outside for you,” Ryder said, holding up his palms and edging toward the door.
Chloe smiled at him but kept her attention on her friend. “We’re not married. Ryder whisked me away on his plane, and we had a few fun days.” She wasn’t keeping things from Shelly, she just didn’t have time to explain everything right now. “Long story, but I was helping him with his poker game.”
Shelly scoffed. “I bet you were helping him with a whole lot more than hispoker.”
“You could say that.”
They both burst out laughing.
“I’d say I miss you but it’s kinda nice having my sofa back.”
“And your wardrobe,” Chloe told her. “I’ve taken most of my stuff. He wants me to stay for a few weeks, at least until I save enough to head back to law school.”
“You really like him, don’t you?” Shelly’s voice was softer now, all joking aside.
“Maybe.” She was lying. She liked Ryder a lot, only she didn’t want to admit it.
“Just be careful,” he friend cautioned. “Have fun with him, but don’t let him break your heart.”
“I won’t.” She hugged Shelly and kissed her cheek. “But it’s you I’ll come crying to if he does. You should never have given him my number.”
“Hey, I haven’t seen you like this with a guy… ever. So just enjoy him. And save all the details for me.”
“I will.” Chloe waved as she walked out the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow at work.”
