Page 93 of Made Better Together

“Ninety seconds, in fact.”

“Ah, time flies when you’re having fun.” The ends of her lips tilt up more.

A laugh bursts out of me. “You’re secretly funny, aren’t you?”

“Just a Type B girl usually buried under her Type A dreams. This is me, when I’m relaxed.”

I’m fucking into this side of her. Noted. Help Eden relax more.

Once we park in the building’s garage, I open my door so I can guide her out. But then, I realize her panties are still sitting in the cup holder. As I slip them into my pocket, her eyes clock the motion.

“Is this…is that something you…”

I can read between the lines—she’s curious about whether I normally have keepsakes.

“No, I just want yours.”

26

CONNOR

Iflip on the wall sconces as we walk in, and a cascade of color floods the space, the beams of light reflecting the artwork onto the cream tile floor.

Rawley’s place is the most eclectic of my siblings’ homes. It started as a new construction, a big gray box, but over the years, he’s purchased a diverse selection of local art. Often on a whim.

“It’s chaotic, like my brain,” he sometimes jokes. Either way, it suits him a lot better than a boring neutral space.

Although his furniture is still rather staid. Olive green twill upholstery covers the two couches and armchairs. They’re well-made and comfortable, at least.

“Why don’t we hang in the living room?” I don’t want to set the wrong vibe by guiding her straight to my bedroom, despite everything that just happened. Am I struggling after watching her in the car? 100 percent. But I steel myself to ease into things here at the condo.

“This view is incredible.” She walks out to the sliding doors leading to the balcony. “I don’t think of Orlando as having these kinds of high-rise buildings.”

“Does San Diego?” I go into the kitchen and grab two bottles of water as she heads to the couch.

“My mom always had a house, but yeah.” I hand her the water and sit down next to her. “She wanted to be near family. Well, she needed to be near them when I was little, so she could finish school.”

“Are you still close to the rest of your family there?”

She adjusts a small pillow behind her, scooching into the seat cushion a little more. A bright spot on this blah couch, looking at ease—and clear-eyed. Confirmation the drinks from earlier wore off.

“Yes, sort of. There’s no one my age. My mom’s sister Celia has twins, Wyatt and Sawyer, but they’re in elementary school.”

“They sound like cowboys with those names, not going to lie.”

She grins, looking outside the window. “My mom hasn’t shared the full story with me ever, but apparently Aunt Celia had a thing for a rancher’s son in her early twenties.”

I bark out a laugh. “Nice.”

“Not me though.” She swings her face back to me, a twinkle in her eyes. “I always seem to date guys who are into sports.”

“Thank fuck for that.” I slide fractionally closer to her. “You…you, uh, feeling good after all that we tried today?” That came out awkwardly…I meant the alcohol, but it sounded like something else too.

She doesn’t miss a beat, though. “I’m perfect. It was…fun. What about you?” Her eyes dip down to the zipper on my pants before rising back to my face.

“My buzz has worn off.” I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose, realizing she’s waiting for an answer on the other front. “And I’ll be alright.”

She shakes her head. “That’s twice now that I’ve…come and you haven’t. The Fourth and today.”