Chapter 38
DANNY
When I knockon the door of Eden’s apartment, I’m sweating bullets. Again.
I tug at the collar of my tux. It feels like I’m wearing cardboard. How can something so expensive feel so uncomfortable?
But it’s more than just this godawful suit that has me crawling out of my skin. It’s mostly the thought that I have to tell Eden about my failed attempt yesterday to tell her brother about our relationship.
When she answers the door, she’s wearing a fluffy white robe. Her eyes widen at the sight of me before she grins. “Whoa. Handsome devil. You clean up nice.”
A smidge of my stress and nerves fades at her compliment. “Thanks. You look beautiful.”
She shoves my arm before pulling me inside and shutting the door. “I do not.” She gestures for me to have a seat on the couch and starts to walk off, but I grab her hand and pull her back to me.
“Hey. You’re beautiful.”
I press a careful kiss on her lips. She’s already done her hair and makeup, and I don’t want to mess it up.
Her glossy lips curve upward in a flustered smile. “I’ll just be a sec. Gonna throw on my dress then we can go.”
“Wait,” I say. “I need to tell you something.”
Her perfectly arched eyebrows furrow in concern. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just…” I huff out a breath. “It’s about Cruz.”
“Oh.” Her expression falls slightly. “Did it not go well? When you told him about us?”
I shake my head. “I actually didn’t end up telling him about us. I mean, I tried, but I failed miserably.”
I explain how I started to tell him, but he misunderstood me and then I lost my nerve.
“So now he just thinks I’m showing up with you as friends. Not as a couple.”
“Oh.” Eden blinks for a few seconds. Her mouth purses the slightest bit. It’s like she’s disappointed, but trying not to show it.
“I’m sorry, Eden.” I take her hand in both of mine.
She forces a smile. “It’s okay. I can see how your nerves would have gotten the best of you. We’ll just go together. But not as a couple.”
“Hey.” I pull her against me. “I’ll fix this.”
She shakes her head. “This isn’t just on you, you know. I’m part of this relationship too. Cruz is my brother. I bear the responsibility to tell him just as much as you do.”
There’s a conviction in her voice that hits differently. What she’s saying is completely true, but I don’t want her to feel like our relationship—like being with me is like some form of bad news to bear.
“We can save the news about us for some other time,” she says. “Let’s just focus on getting through this party.”
I nod and rub at the back of my neck with my free hand, which is riddled in tension. God, if I hadn’t screwed things up when I talked to Cruz, we wouldn’t be navigating this frustrating and confusing moment.
Eden pulls out of my hold. Another smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “I gotta get dressed. Don’t wanna be late or my mom will raise hell.”
I nod and she walks off. I sit down on the arm of the couch and randomly scroll on my phone.
“I’m finally ready,” I hear her say behind me.
When I turn around, my jaw plummets to the floor. “Fuck…”
This time Eden flashes a genuine smile. The giddy kind where she bites the corner of her lip at first before it morphs into the most beautiful wide grin.
“I look okay?”
I shake my head. “The word ‘okay’ is not allowed to describe how you look ever, Eden. Least of all now. Right now you look fucking incredible.”
My gaze drags down the length of her body. She’s wearing this black, body-hugging dress that cuts right under her collarbone and hits just below her knees. It’s sleeveless, so I can see her stunning tattoo on her upper right arm. She pivots slightly and my eyes pop out of my head. Holy shit, it’s backless.
My mouth waters as I walk over to her. I run my fingertips along her spine, relishing how she shivers and moans at my touch.
“The quicker we go to the party, the quicker we can leave and come back here and have our own little party.”
I’m half-hard at her softly growled words. I take a second to swallow and get myself in check.
I press a kiss to her lips. “Let’s get going then.”