“No,” Brian says, his voice coming out gruffly, “it was just us two.”
Cori stops walking and then looks at the two of us. “She went the whole day walking around the city and nothing happened?” Her face shocked.
“The whole day,” I tell her, “and we went to see where the Gallaghers live.” I look at her now. “Can you get in touch with someone and see if I can tour the lot once I’m home and see if maybe I can go in the house they have here.”
Cori just starts to laugh. “I’ll get right on that.” I watch her hand a card to Brian and then slide one in front of the black circle thing. We walk into the new room that almost looks like the last one except there is a bathroom as soon as you walk in. “The only thing is that there is one bathtub.”
“It’s fine,” he huffs out and then grabs his bag. “Are you guys staying in this room?”
“Yes,” I tell him, “why?”
“I want to go get a run in, and if you are going to stay in, I’ll go to the hotel gym,” he says, grabbing his bag and going to the bathroom.
“What is going on that I don’t know?” Cori asks quietly. “You are you and then him.” She points at the bathroom. “He’s like one second from exploding”—she looks at the bathroom door, then at me again—“and not in a good way.”
“I have no idea what to tell you.” I shrug and then take off my jacket. The bathroom door opens, and he comes out wearing shorts and a white T-shirt.
“I’ll be back in an hour tops. If there is anything, I want you guys to call me. You are not, under any circumstances, allowed to leave this room. No answering the door for any deliveries either.” He tosses his bag on the bed and then walks to the door. “Did you guys get that?”
“We will be fine,” Cori answers for us, and I just walk into my bedroom, listening to the door slam. “Okay, what is going on?”
“Nothing.” I peel off my shirt, walking to the bathroom and starting the bath. “We went out and walked around all day.” I walk out and kick off my shoes. Looking over at Cori, I watch as she gets on the bed, sitting on the side with one foot on, one foot off.
“I need a little bit more than that.” She watches me like a hawk. I know this, and I suddenly feel as if I’m on stage and I have to be someone else, or she will know. I avoid her eyes while I unbutton my pants.
“Cori, there isn’t anything more to say. I woke up, and he wanted to show me around Chicago, and well, that is what he did.” I fold my pants and put them on the end of the bed. “Do you know if they have a robe?” I ask, walking to the closet and opening it, finding a plush terry cloth robe hanging on a silk hanger. “We went to the bean, and then we visited a couple of landmarks and then came back.”
“That sounds amazing. Now look at me,” she orders, and I look up. “What happened?”
I roll my eyes. “Nothing.”
“You can fool just about anyone but me,” she points out, getting up and coming to me. “Now, it’s easier if you just let it out and tell me, or I will sit on the side of the bathtub and harass you until you do.” I fold my arms, knowing she won’t let up.
“I had a shot of moonshine, and it was such an amazing day, and I was maybe feeling buzzed, but he was so close to me.” I look at her and then look down, getting the courage to say the rest. “And then I asked him to kiss me.” She gasps, putting her hand to her mouth. “Yeah, well, you can stop the celebration. He said he can’t.”
“What do you mean?” she asks, confused.
I throw up my hands in the air. “Fuck if I know, but I am done throwing myself at him. I am done doing this hot and cold shit. I am going to get in the tub, then when I come out, I’m ordering the biggest plate of french fries, and I’m going to finish watching season one of Shameless.”
She nods. “That sounds like the best night ever. You forgot about maybe a cheeseburger.” I point at her, nodding. “Go take your bath, and I’m going to set up things for our slumber party.”
I turn and walk back into the bathroom, trying not to feel sorry for myself. I know he said that after the ninety days we would talk, but I was hoping he would give a little. I was hoping he would want to kiss me, that he would want it just as much as I do.