Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
He looks down at me, his fingers coming up to brush the line of my jaw. “I like weirdos. I enjoyed being in your world for the night, Anika. I wish I could stay longer.”
I don’t like the sound of that. “You could come up for a nightcap.”
That will lead to sweaty, glorious, nasty sex, and an exchange of phone numbers.
Damn it. I’m thinking beyond the night, and that’s so foolish of me. He told me he can’t hang out. He’s been clear, and I should know better.
He sighs, a look of regret in his eyes as he stares down at me. “If only it was so simple. The funny thing is I thought I would be walking up those stairs with you. Or I would convince you to come back to my room. I looked across that bar and thought I might be able to fit one good night in.”
Despite the fact that I’ve just admonished myself for overreaching, I leap at the opportunity. I still want him even though I’m pretty sure he’ll break my heart. “So come upstairs with me. It’s small but cozy, and I think I’ve got some wine.”
It might be in a box. I hope it’s not in a box.
“But then I got to know you,” he says, stepping away. “And I know what a sacrifice I’m about to make. I have things I have to do, things I don’t want to do. However, I will do my duty, and one of those things is going back to my hotel room alone. It was such an honor to spend time with you, Anika Fox.”
He’s going to leave and he’s not even going to kiss me.
I thought for sure he would kiss me.
He seems like the charmingest of princes, and now I realize I’ve been playing out a fantasy in my head. A rom-com where we both go in without the intention of falling in love, but in the morning he would know he can’t leave.
I’m still that little girl who wants so badly to have an epic love story because the world seems so cold.
He’s doing me a kindness because he isn’t playing into my fantasies.
“It was good to spend time with you, too, Luca.” I give him what I hope is a bright smile.
He takes my hand in his and brings it to his lips, his kiss sending warmth through me. “Know that I am going to regret walking away from you for a very long time. Have a good life, Anika, and I’ll look for that movie of yours.”
He backs away, and I watch as he hails a cab. He waves to me and then he’s gone.
I stare for a moment and then walk slowly up the steps, hating the fact that I have tears in my eyes.
I don’t know that man. Not really. I mean I know where he likes to vacation and that he felt lonely most of his life. I know he views his job as something he can’t step away from. I know his parents didn’t give him the best model of a relationship.
So it’s strange that when I think about it, I have to admit that I know more about him than my last boyfriend, and I dated him for half a year. We’d done all the where did you go to school and who are your friends stuff, but we’d never gone deep. Not the way Luca and I had.
I sniffle and realize how late it is. It’s time for bed. If I can sleep.
I buzz into the building, and there’s a woman sitting on the bottom step. She’s still dressed for the party we went to earlier, and I wonder how long she’s been sitting here.
“Harper?”
Her head comes up, and her face falls as she realizes I’m alone. “Oh. Did you already go back to his place and now you’re walking in here all happy and satisfied? Except you look ready to cry.”
I am so relieved to see my friend. She stands, and I cross the space between us, throwing my arms around her. “I liked him so much, but he didn’t even kiss me. We walked around the city and asked each other all those questions and then he left me here.”
Harper’s arms close around me. “Oh, sweetie. I’m so sorry, but if you’re this invested already, it’s for the best. I was waiting because I knew how much you liked him, and I was either going to let him know I was hanging around in case he thought about hurting you or for this. I can kill him if you want. I know how to use a nail gun.”
She does, but there’s no reason to want vengeance. He’s a nice man who didn’t take advantage of me. He gave me a great night and a wonderful memory. I wipe away the tears I shouldn’t be shedding because I barely know him.