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That had always been the plan since I was going to talk to her tonight anyways. It waswellpast time. That was glaringly obvious from her comments earlier today.

So yeah, I’d been ready to wait outside her door, but instead I realized someone was already inside. I took in a deep breath and slowly let it out before ringing the bell.

And no one answered. I waited a whole minute and no one answered.

Did she think it was someone random or… I had no idea how many people even knew where she lived. I’d learned more about her today and she wouldn’t be happy about that, but it wasn’t my fault.

People weren’t even gossiping. My hearing was just too good.

I rang the bell again, feeling like an asshole when I did it a third time. I should have taken the hint, but I was pretty sure that I would have had a hard time coming back if she didn’t open now.

She looked less than thrilled when she pulled open the door… In a bathrobe, dripping wet.

“Shit,” I hissed.

“Yeah, idiot,” she grumbled and spun around.

I caught the door before it closed and came inside, locking it behind me. “Sorry, I thought… I wasn’t thinking just—ya know and—sorry.”

She didn’t say anything until she returned several minutes later looking as if she’d finished her shower. She sighed heavily as she gestured in a weird way as if to all of me and maybe my issues that followed me in? “I really don’t have the mental nor emotional energy for all of this and I had a piece of the funny brownie. I just don’t have the energy to kick you out either.”

“Okay then,” I muttered, unsure of how to handle that and my plan of groveling not going well. I extended the flowers to her. “I was going to come talk to you today anyways, not just—”

“Because you played my white knight?” she drawled, ignoring when I frowned. “Though I can’t even be mad. I wouldn’t have sat still either if someone pulled a gun on you. We’re people who dive in. It’s fine.”

“I wasn’t really looking for a thank-you, but I didn’t think I was going to be in trouble,” I hedged, mentally wincing when she gave me a death look. “Forthat. I know I’m validly in trouble for a lot.”

“Well, at least you’re not a complete moron then,” she mumbled. “I picked up Chinese on the way home. Help yourself.” She rubbed her neck and frowned. “Just because I’m letting you in and feeding you doesn’t mean we’re okay. You’re a super huge dipshit. I’m just being an adult. You should try it sometime.”

Oh, ouch.

“Can I explain?”

“Can you?” she mocked as she headed for the kitchen.

I let out a slow breath. “Are you open to hearing where my head was? You said you didn’t have the emotional energy for all of me and my issues. I didn’t know if that meant be quiet or just don’t expect a response from you.”

“The latter, but I’m less pissed at you that you’re making that distinction and genuinely checking,” she admitted as she loaded up two huge plates. “And I wasn’t being a grammar shit. I was asking if a man could explain his feelings after being so stupid.”

“I hope so. I hope I can put this into Ellie,” I admitted.

“Alright, let’s see how this works,” she accepted. “I retained most everything after the last brownie fun. Maybe this is the better way to handle conflict.” She snorted. “It would be nice if I got to handle problems like this.”

Fair enough.

I told her what I’d figured out at home, what Mum had helped me understand and then even what my mates had clued me in on. I was honest but tried to be concise as we ate.

She waved at my chest when I was done. “Take off your shirt. I’ll be less annoyed at you for comparing me to that slutbag in any way even if I know it wasn’t really about me but your issues.”

I slowly blinked at her for a moment and then mentally shrugged, yanking off my sweater and staring at her as if to ask what next.

She burst out laughing. Ellie let out a magical laugh that was perfect and she almost fell off the chair she was laughing so hard. She stopped laughing when I went over to help her, pointing back to my chair. “You’re still in the doghouse. Go sit there like a good boy and hopefully say less stupid.”

“I can sit there, but I’m sorry because there’s more stupid,” I admitted as I made sure she was stable. I sighed and took my seat again. “I was going to come right back and text you. I was going to ask to see you, but checking out my sister’s buildingturned into seeing a couple and—it was interesting—seeing that side of her.

“And then I was asking about the opportunity in Miami. I was going to swing by your office and ask to talk that night, but then I wasn’t ready, and I didn’t want you to think I was distracted or wanted to use you.” I hurried on when she frowned. “Asking about American real estate or owning buildings since I’m going to invest with my sister.”

“Is that smart when she’s proven not to treat you right?” she hedged. “Could you really sue your own family if she screws you? How much pressure would your parents put on you not to get involved or make problems for the family?”