hiding it well and doing everything to make sure I didn’t cry again.
My tears had actually been quite genuine, unlike my reasoning for moving in with everyone. In some ways, it was a blessing I had initially hesitated. It made the whole I’m not ready pitch so much easier to sell.
Nicole always took time to adjust to things she didn’t like. It was a compliment that she was so annoyed with me. She really did want me to move in with them, and I hated hurting her.
The next few weeks were going to suck, big time. I already couldn’t wait for it to be over. I was determined to work as quickly and efficiently as I could. I needed to get as much information from this Mendez girl as possible...not just for those poor girls, but also for myself.
I let out a heavy sigh as Eric drove us back towards UCLA.
“Hey, don’t worry about it. Nicole will get over it.”
“Yeah.” I rubbed my aching head. “I just really hate when she goes all ice queen on me.”
“That’s just who she is. She’s not really one to hide her emotions.”
“She can when she wants to,” I muttered.
“What was she feeling tonight?”
“Hurt,” my voice wobbled.
“I thought so.”
I huffed, wishing I could just drop the charade, but feeling like I needed to sell it just a little more. “I really wish I could explain to everybody that it’s nothing personal.”
“Hey, we know that.” Eric squeezed my knee. “She just needs time to process her disappointment.”
“And you?”
Nerves skittered through me as I gazed across at him. His jaw clenched for a second before an easy smile drew his lips north.
“You already read me at the table. You know I’m disappointed, but I care enough about you to want what makes you happy. If you’re not ready, you’re not ready. I know you still love me.”
He braked at the traffic light and gave me his full attention.
I could have drowned in that soft smile and was tempted to say, “Screw Kaplan; I want to move in with you!”
I pressed my lips together and looked out the window.
“I’m sorry I made you sad.”
“Maybe just a little.” He winked at me. “But I am happy you’re being honest with me. I would hate you to move in if you didn’t want to.”
I swallowed, the word honest ringing in my ears.
When this was all over I’d have to tell him the truth. Would he hate me? Forgive me?
Why did I have to take this risk?
“I’m so torn,” I muttered.
The light turned green and Eric accelerated through the intersection. “It’s better to take your time and feel confident about a huge decision like this.”
I flashed him a smile. “You’re so good to me.”
“That’s cause I love ya.”
My insides did that giddy dance they always do whenever he said that to me. I shuffled in my seat, drinking him in as I leaned against the window.
We paused at the next intersection. Eric’s fingers hovered next to the indicator. Right would take us to the UCLA campus, left to his place.
“Want to sleep over?” His voice was a little husky, and I couldn’t resist it.
“Yeah,” I whispered, not caring there was a chance I’d bump into Nicole tomorrow morning. I just wanted to spend the night with my man.
With a broad grin, Eric flicked the indicator left and we headed to his place.
Dale’s car wasn’t in the drive, which meant we had the house to ourselves for a bit.
Eric walked in the door and stripped off his shirt as we headed down to his room.
“I’m just going to jump in a quick shower. Want to join me?” He grinned.
I wanted to say yes, but there was something I needed to do.
“Actually, I might just hide out in your room if that’s okay.” I trailed my fingers along his bare torso.
He snatched them up and kissed my knuckles. “Back in a minute.”
I waited until I could hear the shower running before grabbing my phone and Kaplan’s business card. I dialed her number and held the phone to my ear with quivering fingers.
“Kaplan,” she
My tears had actually been quite genuine, unlike my reasoning for moving in with everyone. In some ways, it was a blessing I had initially hesitated. It made the whole I’m not ready pitch so much easier to sell.
Nicole always took time to adjust to things she didn’t like. It was a compliment that she was so annoyed with me. She really did want me to move in with them, and I hated hurting her.
The next few weeks were going to suck, big time. I already couldn’t wait for it to be over. I was determined to work as quickly and efficiently as I could. I needed to get as much information from this Mendez girl as possible...not just for those poor girls, but also for myself.
I let out a heavy sigh as Eric drove us back towards UCLA.
“Hey, don’t worry about it. Nicole will get over it.”
“Yeah.” I rubbed my aching head. “I just really hate when she goes all ice queen on me.”
“That’s just who she is. She’s not really one to hide her emotions.”
“She can when she wants to,” I muttered.
“What was she feeling tonight?”
“Hurt,” my voice wobbled.
“I thought so.”
I huffed, wishing I could just drop the charade, but feeling like I needed to sell it just a little more. “I really wish I could explain to everybody that it’s nothing personal.”
“Hey, we know that.” Eric squeezed my knee. “She just needs time to process her disappointment.”
“And you?”
Nerves skittered through me as I gazed across at him. His jaw clenched for a second before an easy smile drew his lips north.
“You already read me at the table. You know I’m disappointed, but I care enough about you to want what makes you happy. If you’re not ready, you’re not ready. I know you still love me.”
He braked at the traffic light and gave me his full attention.
I could have drowned in that soft smile and was tempted to say, “Screw Kaplan; I want to move in with you!”
I pressed my lips together and looked out the window.
“I’m sorry I made you sad.”
“Maybe just a little.” He winked at me. “But I am happy you’re being honest with me. I would hate you to move in if you didn’t want to.”
I swallowed, the word honest ringing in my ears.
When this was all over I’d have to tell him the truth. Would he hate me? Forgive me?
Why did I have to take this risk?
“I’m so torn,” I muttered.
The light turned green and Eric accelerated through the intersection. “It’s better to take your time and feel confident about a huge decision like this.”
I flashed him a smile. “You’re so good to me.”
“That’s cause I love ya.”
My insides did that giddy dance they always do whenever he said that to me. I shuffled in my seat, drinking him in as I leaned against the window.
We paused at the next intersection. Eric’s fingers hovered next to the indicator. Right would take us to the UCLA campus, left to his place.
“Want to sleep over?” His voice was a little husky, and I couldn’t resist it.
“Yeah,” I whispered, not caring there was a chance I’d bump into Nicole tomorrow morning. I just wanted to spend the night with my man.
With a broad grin, Eric flicked the indicator left and we headed to his place.
Dale’s car wasn’t in the drive, which meant we had the house to ourselves for a bit.
Eric walked in the door and stripped off his shirt as we headed down to his room.
“I’m just going to jump in a quick shower. Want to join me?” He grinned.
I wanted to say yes, but there was something I needed to do.
“Actually, I might just hide out in your room if that’s okay.” I trailed my fingers along his bare torso.
He snatched them up and kissed my knuckles. “Back in a minute.”
I waited until I could hear the shower running before grabbing my phone and Kaplan’s business card. I dialed her number and held the phone to my ear with quivering fingers.
“Kaplan,” she
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