Page 95 of Heartstruck at Dawn
“What happened?” he asked with a demanding tone.
“Nada.”
“Nothing.” He snorted with a sarcastic smile. “So, besides the fact that he’s an idiot who left you here to cry alone, is he ordering you around?”
“No, he’s not. I mean—he messed up, but we’re going to be okay. I just needed some space. I messed up too. I got a little—quick-tempered right there in the end.”
“No! You? Quick-tempered?” He made apshsound afterward just to get on my nerves.
“Shut up,” I said with a smile that felt like torture as I looked up into his eyes.
“I’m impressed he’s not the one complaining about being bossed around. He might enjoy it. I know I do.”
“I don’t boss Nathan around.”
“So, just me, then?” William leaned sideways against the doorframe, hands inside his pants pockets, foot crossed in front of the other. “Huh. I can’t say I don’t like that even better.”
William was used to being pleased by everyone. No one ever said no to him. That must’ve been so convenient for him—boring too. But I didn’t knowthatWilliam. The one everyone wanted to satisfy so badly. To me, he was just—him.
And he definitely liked the game he thought we were playing. Was I playing along? I could tell by the way he was looking at me that he probably thought I was. That was my cue to go back inside.
“Don’t you have a plane to catch?” I asked, trying to get the conversation to fade to black.
“Plane leaves whenever I feel like leaving. And I don’t feel like leaving just yet.” He smirked.
Of course. Why would he fly commercial?
The way he kept looking at me made me nervous—the kind of good nervous that made me feel bad. Guilty. “Just go,” I said with an awkward laugh.
“Yes, ma’am.” He tapped his forehead with two fingers and turned around to leave.
“That was easy!” I said to his back.
He looked over his shoulder. “I’m at your will,” he said with a wink, walking to his apartment. “But I do know one thing. I wouldn’t have left for Miami if I were him. Sadly, he doesn’t know you like I do.”
His brilliant blue gaze traveled from my eyes to my lips as he unlocked his apartment. “One has to know when to disobey such orders, as exciting as they can be.”
He disappeared into his apartment and shut the door behind him.
Why didn’t he brush his lip?
February 7, 2010
LILY AND I WERE GOINGto watch the Super Bowl together. We didn’t care about the game, but we wanted to watch the half-time show, and Lily swore the commercials were the best part of all. Plus, it was a great excuse to hang out just the two of us. Fashion Week started next weekend, and she would be working and traveling like crazy.
Lily:Your place or mine?
Me:Yours?
I needed to get out. I hadn’t left my apartment since Friday. And I tried smiling as much as I could for Mimi. I didn’t want her to worry or start asking questions. Ultimately, she reported back to my father, and I didn’t feel like talking to him. Not yet. I wanted things to be okay with Nathan first.
Lily waited for me with two bottles of wine and a bunch of snacks.Now that’s what I’m talking about.
“I have a surprise for you,” she said, disappearing into her room. She came back holding a large yellow Louis Vuitton paper bag. “Here. It’s all yours.”
“Lily, you just gave me that black Celine bag last month,” I replied as Lily placed the bag on my lap.
“I already have this bag in another color. Please, take it. Don’t you want to see it?” She moved her eyebrows up and down while biting on her lower lip.
