Page 63 of Moonstruck at Midnight
“Hey! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” He grabbed my shoulders, turned me around, and motioned for me to walk away. “Go look around the store or something,” he ordered playfully.
I kept turning around, trying to figure out what he was up to. That was a lot of money. I wanted to know what he’d bought because I didn’t know if I felt comfortable with it if he spent that money onme.
“It’s a surprise, now scoot.”
“For me?”
“Of course.”
“Thomas, that’s too expensive. I can’t—”
“Please let me get this for you. Besides, it’s five seventy-five, not six hundred,” he said, lifting his brows.
I didn’t want Thomas to start buying stuff for me to make up for what happened. I’d prefer it if he would sit and talk to me instead of spending that much money on a gift. It was unnecessary. And who carries that amount of cash with them, anyway?
“It’ll be delivered to your apartment in a few days. It’s done. You’ll love it. Let’s get something to eat.” He smiled. “I know just the place.”
We walked two blocks north on 6th Avenue, then East on 56th Street.
“Ramen?” he proposed. I nodded. We went inside and sat at a small table for two.
The food was delicious, and we overate. But it was worth it. Thomas promised to bring me back soon.
He suggested we buy a bottle of wine and drink it at my place. I hoped that meant he was willing to talk to me about what happened last night over a few glasses of wine.
We were walking down the street looking for a liquor store. Thomas started whispering things in my ear, which made me doubt if what he intended to do at my apartment was talking. I didn’t mind his suggestions, but again, diversions. We needed to address a few things before any of …that.
I looked over my shoulder, and Caleb shook his head while lighting up a cigarette. He disliked Thomas beyond measure, and seeing him acting so lovey-dovey with me after the events of the night before, probably didn’t sit well with him.
We found a liquor store, and Thomas bought a bottle of wine. We were still a few blocks away from the apartment, and my feet were killing me.
David brought up the SUV and drove us back to my place.
I took my shoes off in the car and hissed. I had a big blister just above my heel. “Ouch. I think we walked too much.”
“Well, now I get to be your nurse,” he whispered in my ear. “Maybe we can—incorporate that.” I laughed and said nothing else. In this case, silence meant consent.
We parked in front of the apartment building, and I was about to put my shoes back on when he stopped me, “No, no, no. Grab this.” He handed over the bottle of wine and stepped out of the car. “This isourthing, remember? Now come here.” I approached the door, and he swept me off my feet and carried me inside.
Thomas tickled my waist and whispered things in my ear to make me laugh as he carried me inside the lobby. William, Tobias, and Eric had just stepped out of the elevator and walked straight in our direction. Tobias and William were both wearing baseball hats and sunglasses, probably trying to hide their undeniable hangovers.
“Hey, Billie!” Eric and Tobias exclaimed in unison as they walked in our direction. William turned the other way and kept silent. Thomas didn’t even acknowledge them back. He was focused on me, making me laugh.
And in all honesty, I probably overdid it once I saw William. Why not help him understand I couldn’t care less about hisfriendsfrom last night—that I usually kept myself very busy too.
So just to put in a little extra effort into it, I whispered back something into Thomas’s ear and covered my mouth when I did it.
William walked past me and intentionally rubbed his shoulder with mine as if trying to stop my interaction with Thomas.
“Guillermina,” he finally said dryly.
Guillermina?Ugh! He pronounced itperfectly, which was even more annoying.
I looked over my shoulder while Thomas summoned the elevator. William had turned to look in my direction, too. He pushed his Ray-Bans down a bit and met my gaze for a fraction of a second. He lowered his brows and quickly walked out of the building.
Why did I bother to play games with a player?
“Neighbors?” Thomas asked. I nodded and kissed his cheek.
