The mystery girl who appeared in his apartment.
He found her, and now they’re together.
Well, if anybody deserves to have fun, it’s Landon.
Once home, I’m about to order dinner when I decide I should think along those lines as well. Have some fun. Forget about Liz.
I scroll through the numbers on my phone. It would be so easy.
And yet…
Who am I kidding?
The only person who remotely interests me right now, is Liz.
Somehow, I make it to the last day of rehearsals before the preview without confessing to Liz that I can’t stop thinking about her. It’s a major triumph, especially since she’s determined to prove how little she cares about me by flirting with me and every other guy on the production, while ignoring the fact that I’m constantly eating her up with my eyes.
She’s acting like that night never happened while I’m becoming a wreck around her.
Very suave.
I’m counting the days till opening night, because God knows, I need to put some actual physical distance between us.
“Ready for tomorrow?” Cruz is heading toward the stage door.
I grin. “How many times have we done this, man?”
He laughs. “Not nearly enough times. I have butterflies in my belly.”
“They’ll pass.” I watch him go, then head up to my office. Liz’s dressing room door is open, and my steps slow, my heart kicking up a notch at the thought of being alone with her, even though I know she’s just going to blow me a kiss and send me away with a few empty words and smiles.
Kyle is inside the small room with her. He has his hand on hers, and they’re smiling in each other’s faces. Liz turns toward the door and meets my eyes, but I don’t wait to see or hear anything else. I keep walking, heading to my door and opening it just as she catches up to me.
“Aidan.”
I step inside my office, not bothering to look at her. “What?”
“Can I come in?”
No.
No.
I hate that it’s so obvious that I’m jealous. She knows it. I know it. I want her. So much that I can barely think.
I step back to let her into the office, shutting the door then turning to watch as she walks to my desk.
“I wanted to talk about tomorrow,” she says, her voice light. “Kyle was just telling me how he deals with stage jitters. I’m still a little nervous, and I wondered if you had any tips.”
The easy casualness of her tone irritates me.
“Just show up.” My voice is gruff and dismissive. “Is that all?”
She doesn’t respond. When I look at her face, the careless mask is no longer there. Her eyes are imploring, wanting…… wanting what exactly?
“Is that all?” I repeat.
Her eyes don’t leave mine. Slowly, she shakes her head. She wants much more. As I do. Desperately.