Well This Sucks - CoraLee June Page 0,61

through the blinds and let out a low whistle. “Shit. You’re right.”

I downed the rest of my now lukewarm hot cocoa and sighed. “I’m scared, Ryan.”

“Maybe we should call Yaz and tell her to bring the hard stuff.”

I couldn’t tell this to Yaz. I loved her like a sister, but she wasn’t who I needed right now. I needed to cry in borrowed pajamas in a nasty loft apartment while drinking peppermint schnapps.

“She’d probably ask to be changed. Wait. Can you do that? Would it be tacky of me to ask you... Wait...don’t answer that? But, like, blink twice if that is an option.”

I didn’t blink. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Being powerful was great and whatnot, but it was like joining a cult.

“Okay. Do you want to sleep? You look tired. I have a million questions, but you seem like you need to decompress.”

He was right. See? This was exactly why I needed Ryan. “I love you. Can I have your bed? Your couch has questionable stains on it, and I know for a fact you at least keep your sheets clean.”

Ryan laughed. “Yeah. Have at it. But in the morning, I want to ask a few things.”

“Deal,” I promised. I got up and went to the bedroom, stopping at the window first to wave to Rocky. He didn’t look amused.

I pulled back the comforter on Ryan’s bed and double-checked the sheets for anything I didn’t want to be spending the night with. Finding nothing, I switched off the lights and climbed in the bed, snuggling into the warm blanket. “Good night, Ryan! Don’t spend all night watching Buffy. Love you!” I called out.

“Love you too, Fang.”

“Not cute,” I yelled before drifting off to sleep.

I was standing in a room I didn’t recognize. It was big. Much bigger than the dorm room I shared with Betty, maybe even bigger than my apartment. Bigger than Ryan’s, for sure. I walked toward a nearby door and pushed it open, revealing a beautiful bathroom. The floor and shower walls were a sparkling white tile with gray marbling. There was a freestanding tub with a bamboo tray that held a pale pink candle and a white orchid.

There was another door. I went through it and found myself standing in the biggest closet I had ever seen. The plush white carpet felt incredible under my bare feet. There were white built-in drawers and shelves that lit up, holding pair after pair of heels.

Another door appeared, and I opened it, eager to see what was on the other side. Now I was in a combination bedroom and living room. Diego was there. He was wearing a tight black T-shirt that showed off his biceps. He was holding a paint roller, moving it up and down the walls, splashing light pink paint on his jeans and in his hair as he worked.

Looking around the room, I saw a queen-sized bed topped with a mountain of throw pillows. On the other side of the open space was a small white couch with pink throw pillows and a velvety pink blanket. In front of the couch, a white marble coffee table with more pink candles and a vase of flowers.

I trailed my fingers along the buttery soft couch as I walked over to Diego. I stood there staring, but he didn’t notice me.

“I’m impressed. You work quickly,” Claire said. I hadn’t even noticed her standing behind me. I was too fixated on Diego. What on earth was he doing?

“She left,” was all he said. I knew in my gut that this wasn’t a dream. This was really happening. Somehow. Someway.

“Can you blame her? That little possessive display of ownership is likely to send any woman running—especially a modern, independent woman such as herself. Just because fate put you two together, doesn’t mean you don’t have to work for it.”

Diego dropped the paint roller, making the paint splatter everywhere. He didn’t even seem to care as he ran his fingers through his hair. “She’s not what I would have picked for myself,” he admitted.

His words stung far more than I wanted them to. My eyes watered. He wasn’t exactly who I envisioned ending up with either, but that didn’t mean I liked the rejection. Diego and I had chemistry, but I didn’t belong in his world. “You weren’t my first pick either, buddy,” I murmured.

Diego’s head snapped up, and he looked around the room. “Did you hear that?” he asked Claire while rubbing his chest. I hadn’t realized