Page 49 of Not Mine To Love

“Maybe I didn’t.”

“Don’t play stupid.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I’m talking about you showing up here, uninvited and bewitching my dad. You’re like a charismatic stalker.”

“Thanks… I think.”

“That was supposed to be an insult, not a compliment. Stalking people isn’t okay.”

“Oh you mean, like how you followed me around for days on end? So you’re saying that’s not okay?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “That was the job.”

“So it’s okay to stalk people for money, but anything else is just wrong?”

“Yes,” I said, feeling stuck in a corner.

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“You don’t make any sense.”

He smiled at me and reached for my hand. “I think we just had our first official fight as a couple.”

I snatched my hand back and looked around, wondering where Dad had gone. Our condo wasn’t that big. “We’re not fighting and most importantly, we’re not a couple.”

“Whatever you say, sweetheart.”

“Don’t call me sweetheart.”

“Sure, babe.”

I wanted to strangle him, but I forced myself to take a deep breath. I wasn’t going to let him get a rise out of me.

“So, stalker, why are you here?”

He shrugged. “I was in the neighborhood and figured I’d stop by.”

“You just happened to be in my neighborhood? Nearly an hour away from where you live? You really expect me to believe that?”

He shrugged. “It was worth a shot.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Finally, a smile,” he said, and my heart went pitter-patter. My stupid heart.

“I know this is kind of a weird move—"

“Kind of?”

“But if you won’t spend time with me, then I’ll spend time with you.”

“You know it doesn’t work that way, right?”

He shrugged yet again. “I’m open to trying something new. What about you?”

I wanted to say yes. So much so that it scared me. And for that reason, I knew what I had to do.