“Hmmm. I had no idea.” He unpacked the rest of the bags. “Did you like it?”
“Like what?”
“My condo.”
“Of course. It’s huge, especially for New York. And then you have. . .”
He quirked his brows. “What?”
“You have great taste.”
“Yeah. Sure.” A cruel chuckle left him. “I have such great taste.”
O-kay.
I crossed my arms over my chest.
He finished unpacking the bags and placed two sandwiches on two plates. He pulled out a wine glass, uncorked the bottle he’d brought, and poured. “There you go. A nice glass of afternoon wine.”
I walked over and took it. “Thank you.”
He set the wine bottle on the counter, grabbed a beer from the fridge, twisted off the tap, and held it up. “To the global pandemic.”
“No.” I shook my head. “How about. . .to global health?”
“Doesn’t matter as long as we drink.” And with that, he took a long swig of his beer.
“O-kay.” I sipped my wine.
After that swig, he looked at the bottle and then took another gulp. When he finished, he directed his attention to me. “What? You’re still staring at me.”
“What the hell is going on? You have a million-dollar property and now you’re standing in your baby sister’s tiny apartment that could fit inside of your master bedroom.”
“That’s impossible. Zora’s whole place couldn’t fit.”
“It was a metaphor.”
“Not an accurate one.”
“It doesn’t have to be.”
“It should.”
“What the hell is going on?”
“Amber and I are done. I’m giving her a week to get her shit and get the fuck out of my condo. Until then, you’re stuck with me, so enjoy your wine, try one of these great sandwiches, and let me know where I can set up my laptop. We’re roommates. Congratulations.”
I widened my eyes and kept my glass in mid-air.
He pointed to the small dining table. “I could set up over there.”
“Sure.”
“I won’t get in the way of your sculpting or anything?”
“All my stuff is back on the west coast. I’m not doing any art right now.”
Nodding, he drank more of his beer, picked up his laptop bag, and headed that way. “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.” I watched him walk away, noting that coiled muscular back and firm behind of his.
Alrighty.
For me, he was never just Zora’s older brother. He represented the hottest guy in the neighborhood. In school, people thought of him as a nerd. Still, he dated some of the popular girls from time to time and was even on the ballet as Prom King. That was more recognition than I’d ever received at school. Most of the school ignored me.
What the fuck happened between Amber and him?
For all these years, I’d managed to keep my crush a secret because I was able to avoid him with no problem. During our school years, he barely came in to chat with Zora and me. Although there was this one time when he was building a photography portfolio. I’d been shocked when he asked me to model for him. Unable to keep my jitters down, I fell into my typical defense mode—be silly and make a joke of everything.
He’s staying here for a week. I don’t know about that.
At the dining table, he pulled out his laptop and set it up. Next, he took off his jacket. Warmth blossomed in my chest. My hormones buzzed within my skin. Granted I hadn’t really been around anybody in a few days. Therefore, I blamed the reaction on my recent confinement from society.
How the hell am I going to stay in this apartment with him?
Several images entered my head. Many involved my drooling all over him.
He leaned over to plug the laptop in. His ass flexed.
This will be. . .fine. I can control myself. We’ll just be around each other. . .twenty-four seven. What could go wrong?
I finished my glass of wine in one long gulp.Chapter 2
KamalCoronapocalypse
Now what?
On the couch, I sat beside Jade and snacked on my sandwich. She ate the other. Surprisingly, it tasted fresh and perfect.
I made sure to keep my view in front of me. The few times, I glanced her way I was caught with the startling notion of how gorgeous she was—those sexy eyes. Those full lips. The sexy point of her nose. Those perfect cheekbones.
Why hadn’t I noticed it before?
Of course, I understood she was attractive, but I never had the time to really drink her in. Zora always dragged her away or Amber was around or even my mother loved yapping it up with Jade.
It might not be a good idea to stay with her in this small apartment by ourselves.
Against all sanity, I gazed her way. All grown up, Jade still had that flawless brown skin, beautiful lips, and round brown eyes that shimmered in the soft sunlight peeking into the living room. I didn’t even want to think about her breasts, which were right there—so close—full and round under that thin Hello Kitty top.