Hate to Date You (Dating #4) - Monica Murphy Page 0,10

see the cogs turning in her brain. “Maybe?”

“Don’t bother trying to convince her, Caro,” Carter says, slowly shaking his head. “She won’t budge. Stella is very stubborn.”

“I am not.” If I was a bird, I would shake my body, desperate to get my ruffled feathers back into place.

“Yeah, actually you are. Look at how you’re acting at this very moment.” He leans in close to me, his mouth right at my ear, and my entire body heats up. The server returns, handing Alex his credit card along with the receipts and making small talk, but all I can focus on is the warmth of Carter’s breath on my skin, and how my own breathing is accelerating. “You’re arguing with me for no good reason, and you know it.”

“Fine, move in with me then.” I turn to look at him, startled by how close our faces are. He backs up a little, as if he’s surprised too, and we blink at each other for one long second. Then another one. Then another one…

“Did you two just agree to be roommates?” Caroline is practically squealing, she’s so happy. “This is great! I think you two are really going to help each other out by living together for a while.”

I say nothing. Shit, did I just challenge him to move in with me?

“I’ll move my stuff out this weekend, and Carter can immediately move in,” Caroline continues animatedly. “I knew this would work out perfectly!”

He never says another word. The satisfied smile curling Carter’s lips has my hackles rising, and I’m tempted to reach over and slap it off his face.

But I don’t. I’m too busy being pissed over the fact that he’s goaded me into saying he can move into my apartment. He did some sort of reverse psychology on me, and the worst thing is, it freaking worked.

I got played.

Five

Carter

“I’m so glad you’re moving in with Stella.” Caroline beams up at me, patting my cheek with her hand, hard enough to make a smacking noise. I try to tilt my head away from her, but she’s too close. “I would worry about her living alone, but not with you there. You’ll protect her.”

We’re standing outside in front of the restaurant. Alex is trying his best to steer Caroline to his car, but she wanted to tell me yet again how happy she is, that I’m moving in with her best friend.

At least someone is.

“Let’s get you home.” Alex grabs hold of my sister’s arm and pulls her away from me. She goes to him easily, snuggling up close, her hand resting on his chest as she gazes up at him adoringly. He leans down, drops a kiss to her upturned lips, and I look away before I have to see anything too romantic.

I am that guy who’s uncomfortable with couples and their outward displays of affection. Our family isn’t big on loving gestures. Mom didn’t tell us she loved us all that often, and we aren’t big huggers. Naturally, I’m not much for public groping or cuddling. Neither was Caroline.

Until she got with Alex.

It’s surprising, to see how easily she goes to him. How accepting she is of his arm around her shoulders, his mouth on hers. It’s not really a big deal, I suppose. It’s late at night, and no one else is around. The only one they’re being affectionate in front of is me, and I’m family. No big deal, right?

I think about the women I’ve dated in the past. Try to imagine kissing and hugging on them in front of my sister. In front of my sister and Alex. I don’t see it. Not at all.

An image of Stella appears in my head, unbidden. Her snuggled up close, my arm around her waist, my mouth resting against her forehead as I breathe in the sweet scent of her hair…

“Thank you for coming to dinner with us,” Caroline says, waving at me. “I’ll call you in the morning.”

I wave at her in return. Say goodbye to Alex. Watch them walk down the sidewalk toward Alex’s parked car. Alex opens the door for Caroline, she climbs inside, he gets into the driver’s seat and then they’re off.

And I wait.

Scrolling through my phone, I keep one eye on the screen and the other on the entrance to the Treehouse Cafe. Most of the tables outside are empty. A couple exits the building, the woman’s laughter low and seductive, and I watch as they disappear around the building, headed down the nearest