Page 26

Olivia

C rew is cooking dinner when we get home. Something spiced and savory lingers on the air as he and Taylor exchange shifts for the evening.

I drop my coat against the counter as Taylor waves goodbye, but I’m already stumbling toward the tea cabinet. Crew pauses the music he’d been listening to, shoving his phone in his pocket as he leans against the counter and eats.

Despite not eating much at the hotel, I’m not hungry, and I’m glad that he doesn’t offer any of the extra food like he usually does. Instead, he just prepares a leftover container as my water finishes boiling and I add it to my tea mug.

I stir in a spoonful of honey before cautiously slurping the liquid. Warmth settles in my belly, and I sigh, my limbs relaxing.

Should I have taken on Aleks and Sofia as a client? Probably not. Will I have to talk to Charlotte and Skar sooner or later? Most likely.

The more time that passes, the more I wonder if I made the right decision. But I force myself to think about the consequences later.

Later , I agree, my eyes fluttering open as Crew washes his dishes.

I look at him for a moment. Hair still damp from a shower, body clad in a tight tee and jeans. He looks good- and I don’t know if it’s just because I’m tired or it’s just because I’ve never allowed myself to notice before. It isn’t exactly like we’re ever been on… cordial enough terms for me to consider that Crew Warden is attractive.

No , I correct myself. I’ve noticed. I just haven’t let myself go there. I avert my gaze, forcing myself to focus on something else until he clears his throat, drawing my attention back.

“How was it?” he begins, and I’m surprised enough at his question that my mouth forms an ‘ O .’

“Oh, the hotel? It was nice,” I say, stirring my tea awkwardly. I add, “Cozy.”

He smirks, walking toward me and loading his plate into the dishwasher beside me. “Your day,” he clarifies, and it takes a great amount of effort not to slap a palm over my head.

“It was… It was good. Thanks. How was your day?”

“My day was fine. Thank you,” he says, still smiling. “I wanted to ask you about Ricky.”

A sigh drags out of me, but I bite my tongue to keep it from escaping. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to explain my relationship with Ricky. My dad has made his opinion very clear, but I’ve yet to see any merit in his hesitations.

Now… coming from him?

“You want to know if I’m being careful.”

He’s quiet, shutting off the water and turning to face me. “I thought he might be able to ask if anyone’s been hanging around the apartment.”

Wait…

I set my mug aside, feeling a bit ashamed at my automatic assumption. “I- Wait, you think he might have seen who broke in?”

Crew shrugs, crossing his arms over his chest. “It’s worth a shot to ask.”

“Of course. I- I didn’t even think about that.”

“I was going to ask whether or not you could trust him too, to give you credit.”

He’s teasing me , I realize. Crew Warden is teasing me, and a smile breaks out on my face when I realize it.

“You’re an ass,” I say, shaking my head as I shove him with my shoulder gently.

This close, I can see just how intense his whiskey colored eyes are.

I shouldn’t be noticing his eyes , I tell myself but the longer I look at him- and the longer he stares- the more I find myself wondering why I haven’t noticed before.

What would it be like to kiss Crew Warden?

His eyes dip toward my mouth before darting away- the movement so quick I’m not sure if I’ve imagined it until he clears his throat. He steps back enoughthat I can finally breathe again… and within all of a moment, I’m not sure whether or not I imagined the attraction between us.

“I can’t,” he says, voice hoarse. “I shouldn’t touch you. I can’t touch you.”

Hearing the words out loud is like a bucket of cold water being dumped over me. I force myself to pick up my mug, the heat a welcome sense of pain against my skin.

“I- I know,” I whisper. I shrug my hair over my shoulder as another sense of shame settles over me.

I refuse to be ashamed of finding him attractive. But that doesn’t mean he’s not right.

We can’t do this. There are a million reasons why.

It’s just… hanging between us now- with nowhere to go.

“I- um. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say, staring off into the distance. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Ms. Hughes,” he says quickly and before I can move to do it myself, he walks away. Somehow I feel even more tired than I did before.