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“Inside? You’re not coming inside.” I did my damnedest to pick up the bag of food while juggling the rest of my crap.
“Quit being so stubborn and let me help you.”
Cope grabbed the food and then took my messenger bag off my shoulder. He motioned toward my door, because he knew which one it was. That alone was enough to give me a panic attack.
I stuck the key card into the slot in the door, and when it clicked, Cope grasped the knob and held it open for me. I stepped over the threshold, dropped the bags I was still carrying, and held out my hands for the two he had.
“Thanks for your help.”
He shook his head, turned his body sideways, and walked past me and into the kitchen.
“Hey! I didn’t invite you in.” The heavy door slammed behind me as I stalked after him.
He set the bags on the kitchen counter, and instead of walking back out, he sauntered toward the windows.
“Come here,” he said, motioning to me.
“What?”
“Come here,” he repeated, waving his arm. I walked as far as I comfortably could.
“Here,” he said again, pointing.
“Just tell me.”
“I’m not going to tell you; I’m going to show you how I know.”
“You can show me from here.”
“God, are you seriously this stubborn?” He stalked back to me and tried to take my hand, but I stuck it behind my back. He studied me for a few seconds. “You can’t walk over to the windows, can you?”
“I can. I don’t want to.”
“Take another step forward.”
An imaginary line went from the wall, over to the far end of the dining room table. I already knew I couldn’t walk beyond it without getting vertigo. I spun around and stomped back to the kitchen. I was almost to the counter when I felt an arm snake around my waist.
“What are you doing?” I shrieked when he lifted me from the floor and carried me over to the windows. He was beyond my line, and I still hadn’t been able to wriggle out of his grasp. “Please don’t,” I begged him, tears threatening.
He set me down between him and the window but didn’t take his arm from around my waist. “I’m right there,” he said in a soft voice as he pointed at the apartment I already knew he lived in. “And you’re okay. Your feet are on the floor, and you aren’t going to fall.”
“I don’t like heights,” I muttered.
“Figured that.” He turned to the left and spun me along with him. “Too bad because, look at that view.”
In the distance, I saw the United States Capitol Building, just like the doorman had said. It truly was breathtaking.
“I can tell you, that view never gets old.” His mouth was still close to my ear, and I could feel his breath on my neck.
“You can let go now.”
“Can I? You sure?”
When he started to, I grabbed his arm and kept it where it was. “Maybe just walk me back.”
He turned again, so I was facing the kitchen.
“I’m good now.”