The Bookworm's Guide to Faking (The Bookworm's Guide #2) - Emma Hart Page 0,58
waiting for them to fuck and get it over with.”
He barked out a laugh. “That’s one way to put it.”
I shrugged as we turned toward my building. “It’s true. It’s been going on for weeks, but they both insist they hate each other, so here we are. We actually have a betting pool going on.”
“You don’t.”
“We do. I bet they’ll do it by the end of the year. Ivy thinks April, Kinsley says by the summer, and Saylor reckons they’re already doing it.”
“They’re not doing it yet.”
“Oh, totally not. It’s still too tense. They won’t last long though, so fingers crossed for December.” I crossed my fingers and dug into my purse for my keys. After I plucked them out of the depths of the abyss that was my beloved red Lauren Ralph Lauren purse, I unlocked the main door to the building, and Seb followed me in.
“Thank God. It’s warm in here.”
I smiled, removing my gloves and tucking them into my purse. “Thanks for walking me home. I appreciate it.”
He returned my smile, and his eyes sparkled. “You’re welcome. I’d hate it if a bear ate you.”
“I have you know I’d be a delicious snack for a bear,” I replied. “Do you want to come up while you call a cab?”
He hesitated. “I don’t want to bother you. I’ll call from here.”
“Okay.” I shrugged and headed for the mailboxes on the wall. “I didn’t get it earlier,” I explained when I caught him watching me.
He raised his eyebrows. “Oh, hi,” he said into the phone, dipping his head and turning away. “I need a cab if you have one available, please.”
I flicked through my mail while he rattled off my address.
“Twenty to twenty-five minutes? Okay, yeah, I guess that’s fine… Thanks. Can you call when you’re outside? … Perfect, thanks. I’ll see you soon.” He hung up and turned to me. “Do you mind? They’re apparently busy tonight and are going to keep me waiting.”
“It’s fine.” I smiled and tucked my mail into my purse, then motioned for him to follow me.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have had that third beer.”
“Or the fourth,” I replied playfully.
“All right, settle down. As soon as Dylan gets to town, that’s it. I’m on a chicken and rice diet for the next three months.”
“I’ll think of you while I eat my weight in pizza.”
“Thanks. You’re so kind.”
“I do try.” We reached my apartment, and I unlocked the front door. “Come in.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – SEBASTIAN
rule seventeen: the only person you’re lying to is yourself.
I followed Holley into her apartment. She stepped aside so I could enter, and I pushed the door closed behind me. It was hot as hell in here, but I wasn’t sure if it was because it was actually hot or because I was wearing close to an Eskimo outfit to stay warm outside.
I shed my layers and hung them on the empty hook next to her coat. Without my huge coat, gloves, and hat, it wasn’t quite so hot, but still warm.
“Damn. I forgot to turn down the thermostat.” Holley moved toward the little white box on the wall and pressed a button, then moved into another area of her apartment. “Do you want a coffee?”
“Bit late for coffee,” I replied, following her into the cleanest kitchen I’d ever seen in my fucking life. “Jesus, did a bleach monster attack your kitchen?”
“You’re so funny,” she drawled. “Some of us like clean kitchens.”
“I know why you don’t date. You’re too busy pulling crumbs from your toaster.”
“You can wait for your cab downstairs if you want.”
“I love how you’ve organized your plates,” I said quickly. “By color and size. Wow.”
“Sebastian?”
“Yes?”
“Get out of my fucking cabinets.”
I shut the cabinet door with a chuckle and leaned against the counter. “Done.”
“Would you like a hot chocolate?” Holley asked, holding up the jar that I assumed was full of the hot chocolate powder. “No caffeine but just as yummy.”
“Sure.” I tucked my hands in my pockets and watched as she expertly navigated her little hot drink station.
It was fucking adorable.
There was a coffee machine, an electric kettle, a mug rack, and various storage jars that were labeled with their contents.
There was even one for marshmallows.
I’d take that.
Holley fixed my cocoa and handed it to me in a mug that proclaimed me to be a book lover. I side-eyed it for only a moment before I sipped the hot drink and let it warm me from the inside out.