Page 113 of The Worst Best Man

“Your couch tries to swallow its victims whole,” he pointed out.

She studied him over the rim of her glass and sighed. “You’re just so perfect I want to mess you up and see what happens.”

“What’s wrong with me as I am?” Aiden asked, amused.

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

He sat next to her and tugged her feet into his lap.

“I’m trying to wrap my brain around how we can fit together. Because if you think I’m going to prance around in sexy dresses and four-inch heels with my hair and nails done when we’re home alone, you’re going to be seriously disappointed.”

He shook his head. When he envisioned her here, it wasn’t in designer apparel and flawless makeup. He pictured her in sweats and bare feet, eating takeout off the coffee table. Or laying her head in his lap while they read or watched TV. Or naked and sighing in his bed.

“Are you trying to ask what my expectations of you are?”

She nodded, looking apprehensive.

“Franchesca,” he reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear. “I want you to be you. I enjoy spending time with you. Not some carbon copy of every other celebutante in the borough.”

“I can’t believe you know that word,” she joked. But she was rubbing her cheek against his palm, and he saw the nerves in her beautiful face.

“Tonight was fun. And not just the limo. I enjoyed taking you out, showing you off, and spending time with people who are important to us both.”

She nodded, looking wary.

“But I also love being with you in Brooklyn. Exploring those hole-in-the-wall restaurants, sleeping in your drafty fire trap. Hanging out with your brothers. I like all that, too.”

“You’ll still do those things even though I’ve crossed the river?”

“Sweetheart, did you think I’d stop giving just because you started?”

He didn’t know who was more surprised when her eyes clouded with tears. “Hey, what is it?” he asked, pulling her into his lap.

She shook her head, curls shivering from the movement.

“I feel awful. I want to say that I was just trying to protect myself, but I think part of me wanted to make you eat your words about all this being temporary. I wanted to prove to you that I’d be important to you.”

“Well, mission accomplished. Franchesca, you’re very important to me. Don’t doubt that.”

“I feel like I Aidened you.”

He laughed softly. “I don’t know what that means.”

“It means I know that you get off on the chase, and I made you work hard. I think I manipulated you whether I consciously meant to or not.”

“And you think now that the chase is over I won’t be interested,” he guessed.

“I don’t know. I just, it’s not like me to hurt someone on purpose. And I’m sorry, Aiden. I truly am. The more I get to know you, the more clear it is that you’re… great.”

“Great?”

She nodded, blinking back the tears. “Really great.”

“This doesn’t have to be complicated, Franchesca.”

She stiffened in his arms.

“Hang on. Before you get all fired up. I mean,all indoesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t want to give up your life just to be with me, and I want you to know I wouldn’t ask you to.”