Lace (Just This Once 4)

Chapter 22

Olivia

I hear Kate’s door open before I can get into my apartment. I curse under my breath. I was hoping she’d be fast asleep by now.

“You’re alone,” she says, disappointment edging her tone. “Alexander didn’t want to come home with you?”

I turn and face her, taking in her freshly washed face and red pajamas. “I didn’t want him to come home with me.”

“Did you have fun?”

I motion for her to follow me into my apartment. Once we’re both inside, I lock the door and turn on the lights.

My keys land next to my purse on my coffee table.

“Do you want anything?” I ask as I walk to the kitchen, kicking off my boots on my way. “I can get you some water or juice.”

“I’m good,” she calls to me.

I grab a bottle of chilled water from my fridge and press the cold plastic to my neck. I feel flush. I know that it has nothing to do with the fact that the cab driver had the heat turned to high in his car.

He explained that he just moved to Manhattan from Florida and he can’t tolerate the cold temperatures.

It’s not cold. It was barely chilly tonight, but I withstood the heat blasting into my face as he drove me home.

I crack open the lid of the bottle and take a large swallow.

I want to shower and crawl into bed, but I know that Kate’s dying to know what happened between Alexander and me tonight.

I can’t explain any of it, especially my reaction on the sidewalk outside the club. I was overcome with a raw need to be with him. The intensity surprised me so much that I got in the first cab I saw and ended the date.

“I took him to the Pink Parlor,” I announce as I round the corner that leads to my l

iving room.

“You did what?” She asks, adjusting a blanket my mom knit over her legs.

“I didn’t think he’d be willing to sing, but he killed it.” I laugh.

She moves to lie on her side, resting her head on the arm of the couch. “Classical music has lyrics?”

I stifle a laugh. “His musical taste reaches beyond that.”

“What did he sing?” She yawns.

I do the same, covering my mouth with my hand. “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

Surprise dances in her eyes. “You’re kidding?”

I fall onto a red chair opposite the couch, tucking my legs beneath me. “I’m serious. It was amazing, Kate. He jumped right into it. He owned that song.”

“I would have paid money to see that,” she says quietly. “Did you sing?”

“Britney.” I shrug.

“Classic.” She giggles. “You did me proud.”

I take another sip of water as I watch her eyelids flutter shut. “We can pick this up tomorrow, Kate. You should get home and into bed.”