Page 128 of Hate You Up Close

I pinch my brows together.

“What?” I ask, feeling awkward. “Do I have food on my face or something?”

“No,” he shakes his head. “You’re really pretty, you know that?”

Be still my heart.

“Stop,” I blush, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Likereallypretty,” he adds, his eyes never leaving me as he takes a swig of his beer.

“Stop being so mushy,” I chuckle. “You’re making me blush,” I joke, swatting a hand out in front of me.

But really. He’s making my cheeks turn impossibly red…I can feel it.

“You’re cute when you blush,” he smirks. “So that’s definitelynotgoing to make me stop.”

Who is this man sitting in front of me? I don’t know him.

“Okay,” I drawl, crossing my arms over my chest. “Where isElliot Thompson—my asshole boss—and what did you do with him? Are you his long-lost twin or something?”

“It must be the beer,” he shrugs. “It brings out my soft side. But give me a glass of whiskey and I’ll become the biggest asshole you’ve ever met.”

“Well, we better get you a shot of whiskey before you turn into a softy and ask me to be your girlfriend or something,” I mutter, fully joking.

“Or I could just skip to the good part and ask you to marry me.”

My world stops. It stops spinning on its axis.

If he thought I was blushing before, he probably thinks I’m losing my air supply now. I feel all of the blood in my body rush to my cheeks, heating my skin with crimson flames.

I swallow thickly, not knowing what to do or say because I’m at a loss for words. I know he’s not serious…But I can’t hide the affect his hollow words have on me.

My breathing quickens as I try to mask my reaction.

His smile falls at my silence.

“Calm down, Rox,” he chuckles awkwardly. “I’m just playing around.”

Can I just die right here? Can I disappear into thin air from extreme embarrassment? Because I would very much appreciate it if I could.

“Oh, I know.” I do my best to shake off his comment and act like it didn't affect me.

We laugh softly, the most awkward and cringey melody you’ve ever heard.

“So, uh,” Elliot exhales deeply before changing the subject. “I…I wanted to talk to you about something. I’ve kind of gotten myself in a pickle.”

My brows knit together as I tilt my head.

“What do you mean?”

“My brother called and invited me to his engagement party next month,” he sighs before continuing. “When I agreed to go, he asked if I was bringing someone. I don’t know if it was my pride talking or what the hell I was thinking…but I told him I was bringing a date. I just…I didn't want to deal with the shame of showing up alone to another family event, meanwhile, my brother is marrying my ex-fiancée. It’s just fucking embarrassing.”

He hangs his head, and my heart breaks for him.

“I can only imagine how that must feel,” I rasp, genuinely feeling sorry for him.

“Yeah,” he breathes out, running his fingers through his hair. “But at the end of the day, I can't be mad at anyone but myself. I put myself in this predicament.”