"Whoa, are you guys having relationship troubles?" Archie asked. "If you need advice, just let me know. I've seen at least three rom-coms."
Tristan laughed, and so did I as I said goodnight and hung up, leaving Tristan to deal with homework hell. Maybe karma had worked a little after all.
Fifteen
Astrid
The car dropped me off and I readjusted my mask, feeling like such a weirdo as I approached Tristan's building, a classic pre-war beauty near Central Park of course. His front door popped open, and Tristan was standing right there, holding it open for me, a smile on his face.
"Hey, gorgeous."
And he was already laying on the charm.
Oh, God, this was a mistake, wasn't it?
The plan. Remember the plan.
"Hi."
"Come on in," he said, ushering me inside.
Giving the lobby area a quick glance, I was glad to notice not a single soul around. Thank goodness.
Tristan's hand on the small of my back—excuse you, buddy—he guided me toward the elevators where I made it a point tonotlook at him.
"So you made it okay?" he asked.
"I did. Thanks. Just a few odd looks from people, but it's to be expected."
And I caved. I fucking caved.
At his pause, I glanced at him, standing so close to me, I had to tilt my head back, because even in my tallest heels, this guy was so damn tall, and... what the actual hell?
Sure, while planning for this night, I'd studied photos of him,had spent far too much time mentally preparing myself to face him without gagging.
But nothing had prepared me for this, seeing him in person, in the flesh.
Tristan Hawthorne had no business looking like this.
When the hell had he become such aman? Sure, he'd been the hottest guy in high school, but now?
Now he looked like he belonged on the cover of some magazine's "Manhattan's Hottest Bachelors" edition.
He was the most handsome man I'd ever seen. He'd grown taller, broader, leaner, but somehow thicker too.
Not that I was thinking about his thickness. Nope. Not at all.
And without his mask, holy cow, those features. His eyes were dark and magnetic, boring into me, and his cheekbones? Unfair. People paid good money to replicate that. Not to mention his jawline and thick tousled hair. And the lips? Absolutely none of my business. None.
"It's New York, babe. People have seen a lot stranger things than a pretty woman wearing a pretty mask." He grinned at me. "You look beautiful, by the way. Did you make that dress?"
And the fox had laid another trap for me. This man was sneaky, and I shouldn't be so blinded by his handsome devil looks that I forgot that.
Focus, Astrid. Focus.
"Maybe," I said coyly.
He laughed, the sound echoing in the quiet lobby. And then, he leaned down close to me, oh so close to my ear, his breath ghosting over my sensitive skin.
