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My body gets warm and all the desires I’ve been trying to bury rushes back to
the surface. I just can’t wrap my mind around it. What would I have done if he’d
looked me in the eyes and said he wanted me? My nerves start to rattle.
“Okay, fine. But that still doesn’t mean he likes me in that way.”
“Keep living in denial, and another woman will jump on him. Besides, I know

how to read a man. I can see the way he looks at you. If he were sure that you
wouldn’t freak out, he would have said yes.”
She hangs up before I can respond. I sigh and lean back in my chair. I try to
quell the feelings swirling around in my body and focus on items that need to be
addressed before I leave. I’ll have plenty of time to ponder the Henry issue once I
am out of the office.
I wrap up my day by noon and rush home shortly after. I need to get the last-
minute items before leaving later in the night. My stomach flips. I am about to
share a room with Henry. His warm, masculine scent mere inches away from me,
his hard body in touching distance, his sexy voice talking to me in the dark. Damn.
I am going to be a puddle of lust.
I survey my room and luggage. I pull up my list on the phone and check off
important items. Dress, shoes, accessories, phone charger, underwear,…bikini. I

snap my fingers because I’ve almost forgotten. After my argument with Teo, his
cousin, Tala – who is also the bride – sent out an email updating the itinerary with
a beach day. I can’t help but feel like it is a personal jab. I’d become the thickest of
the group and had expressed my dislike for beachwear on one of our outings before
Teo broke up with me.
Unbeknownst to them, I have no such reservations anymore thanks to Henry.
I didn’t reply. I’d decided to let them think what they want; I’ll just show up ready
for their games. After the Henry interrogation, I’d taken my mom in my room to
show her the dress and bikinis. I put each item on and twirled for my most honest
ally. She’d clapped and did what I can only describe as a touchdown victory dance.
“Look at you,” she’d exclaimed. “That bastard won’t know what to do. You are
firm all over. You’re going to slay and take names.”
Note to self: Take away my mom’s Beyoncé CDs
I drag my luggage out of my room to put it next to the front door. I find Henry
deep in thought. He swishes the glass of wine in his hands. I’d recently found out
he hates beer. I can’t say I blame him. He’d started eating Keto with me once he