‘And we’re doing our best,’ I state emphatically.
This might be one of the best pep talks I’ve ever given, I think.But then I clock his face, and even someone as emotionally illiterate as me can tell that I’ve lost him.
‘Nick?’
He slumps on the sofa and stares off, a crease between his eyebrows.
‘Hey,’ I say softly, sitting on the chair opposite. ‘Did I say something wrong? I mean,again?’Cause that’s what I do, remember?’ I add, trying to make light.
His head falls into his hands, and the air grows thick –suffocating. I’ve definitely said the wrong thing, only I have no idea why.
‘Nick?’ I ask again.
‘I’m an arsehole,’ he says.
‘You are not,’ I retort. ‘Trust me, I grew up in LA – my asshole detector is first-rate.’
‘No,’ he says, his hands falling to his sides, ‘Iam.’
I go to contradict him, but he holds up a hand, and I take a beat to regroup. There’s only one thing I can say that will make him feel like less of an asshole.
‘I really wanted to kiss you too.’
He gives a slow nod, his eyes looking deep into mine.
‘I know.’
‘What?’ I shriek. I pop up and resume pacing. ‘What do you mean, youknow?’ I stop and spin around. ‘Wait, are you Han Solo-ing me?’
‘Maybe a little,’ he replies, his lips twitching.
‘Then youarean asshole,’ I say with a laugh. I pick up the nearest throw pillow and hurl it at him. Of course, he catches it easily –one-handed. ‘Dork,’ I say, plopping back onto my chair.
‘Okay,’ he says, seeming a little less self-critical than before, ‘now that we’ve established I am, in fact, an arsehole –anda dork – maybe we should have some ground rules.’
‘Ground rules?’
‘For sharing the room.’
‘Oh, then I agree,’ I say without hesitation. ‘Where do we start?’
‘Sleeping attire.’
‘Sleeping attire?’ I question.
‘Mm-hmm. If you have anything more substantial than what you wore last night, then wear that. You kick the covers off.’
Okay, so he saw me in my lacy sleep set. Which is ironic, because before last week I didn’t ownanythinglacy. But it’s been so long since I’ve seen Nicholas, I wanted our reunion to be super sexy.
‘Done,’ I reply. ‘And you wear a T-shirt.’ I flap my hand at his crotch. ‘Andboxers.’
‘I was wearing boxers last night, but I’ll put on a T-shirt.’
‘Good. Anything else we should agree on?’
‘We could fortify the boundary between us – on the bed,’ he suggests.
‘The pillow fort.’