Page 28 of Beneath Your Beautiful

“He told you about Connor?” Her gray eyes widened in surprise.

“Just a few things. Not a lot. And nothing about you,” I assured her.

“Wow,” she said, shaking her head.

“What?”

“Killian doesn’t open up to too many people. I mean, he talks to me and Louis because we’ve known him forever. But even with us, he holds a lot back. He’s never been the guy to pour out all his thoughts and feelings. He keeps it locked up tight.”

I’d already figured that out the day I met him. “He doesn’t tell me that much. It’s not like Ireallyknow him.”

“But he drives you home after work,” she pointed out.

“Only because he worries about my safety.”

“Yeah, he’s super protective. But he could just make sure you got in a taxi.”

“He said my apartment is on his way home.”

Ava shook her head like I still wasn’t getting it. “Trust me. If Killian is driving you home, he wants to spend more time with you.”

“I’m not looking for a relationship, and I don’t think he is either.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. Everyone is looking for a relationship. Fighting it and not wanting it are two different things. And trust me, Killian wants it. He’s just too stubborn to give in to his real feelings. But hang in there. He’s worth it,” she said, as we exited the gallery.

“I’m sure he’s worth it. But, like I said, I’m not—”

“You know what I think?” Ava said, as if I hadn’t spoken.

“No. What?” If Killian was too stubborn and I was too gun-shy to start a relationship, where would that leave us? Nowhere.

“You’re his unicorn.”

“His unicorn?” I asked, glancing in the window of a vintage clothing store.

“You know, the dream girl. You make him laugh and smile and it’s so good to see. He’s been in a bad way—” She clamped her mouth shut. I waited for an explanation. Instead, she forged on with her unicorn definition. “You challenge him and don’t let him get away with everything. But you see the good in him. You genuinely care about him. And his friends love you. We’re Team Eden.” She gave me a big smile. “You make his life better.”

“I don’t think I do all that.” I wasn’t sure I did anything for Killian except drive him nuts with questions he usually doesn’t want to answer. But he usually ends up answering, anyway, albeit grudgingly.

“You baked chocolate chip cookies for him. And he ate them.”

“They were just cookies.” I wasn’t sure how this had anything to do with being someone’s unicorn. Which I wasn’t.

“He never eats cookies. Or any kind of dessert or junk food. Like, never ever.”

“Why not?”

She shrugged noncommittally. “He just doesn’t. But he ate your cookies. And I happen to think you’re perfect for each other.” Ava gave me a secret smile and now I knew what was behind it. Wishful thinking on her part, if you asked me.

Later that evening, while I was cooking spaghetti with jarred sauce in my postage-stamp-sized kitchen, I got a text from Killian.

How was the art exhibit?

Interesting

I sent him a photo of the sculpture.

He responded with a photo of a mountain of paperwork on his desk.