4. Evan
Evan
A light sheen of sweat covered all my skin as I answered my door. I blinked, then again, as I stared at Mimi.
Sure, I hadn’t stopped thinking about her, but she didn’t know where I lived…unless she was stalking me. She couldn’t be a stalker, could she?
“Er. Um, hello. Did I know you were stopping by?”
I didn’t, and that probably wasn’t the politest way to ask, and my mother would be horrified, but I’d been on my Peloton all morning, doing my darnedest to get Mimi out of my mind.
She’d invaded my dreams last night, messing up my schedule, which I hated.
Hence, my go-hard routine, because I figured a tired body led to a tired mind.
At least that’s what I hoped.
“No, and I tried calling first,” Mimi said. She looked embarrassed and miserable, expressions that had no place on her gorgeous face.
“Oh? My phone was updating, so I left it in my bedroom. Sorry about that.”
“Lydia said she called you about the situation. About me staying here. Just for a couple of nights.”
“Of course.” I nodded, though I hadn’t seen the messages, but I didn’t care. Mimi wasn’t a stalker and I was getting more time with her. Outstanding.
My gaze tracked the smooth contour of her cheek, her beautiful sherry eyes, and I admitted I was more than crushing.
But that was bad. I didn’t know her; she could actually be a stalker who’d just lied to me. Cue the freak out.
Except I didn’t spiral. With a deep breath, I determined to make the most of this opportunity with Mimi as my roommate.
She fidgeted. “Can I come in?”
“Oh! Yes. Of course. Sorry. Want a drink?” I ushered her into my space, gaze frantic in case something was out of place, but nothing was because I hated clutter.
As a control freak, I lined up my shoes by color next to the door and squared my sofa’s cushions with that professional decorator divot in the middle.
My fruit bowl was full, and my glass-fronted fridge showed my smoothies, beverages, and cut veggies all on their respective shelves.
As I led Mimi toward my kitchen, I grabbed a sticky note that said, “Bananas 2 days” and crumpled it.
I didn’t want this beautiful, smart woman to have a front-row seat to my rituals. If she were staying a week, though, she’d get to see all my superstitions up close and way too personal.
Dammit. It was too soon for her to see the real me. I had to make a good impression, not seem like a weirdo. Maybe the fact that her brother-in-law was a former goalie meant she understood goalie superstitions and rituals.
Maybe.
Nope. Mine were extreme even for a goalie. This was going to be so bad…but maybe good.
Mimi set her bag down on one of my barstools.
“Your coach and my sister are down for the count, as are most of your teammates and the sponsors from last night’s event.
I had a meeting with Lydia Breitbart and a consultant named Hugh.
They told me that until everyone recovers and that tapestry is repaired, I’m your handler. ”
My eyes widened. “Handler?”
“Something about the last batch of rookies…”
“Ah.” I nodded. “They were wild.” I took out a bottle of water and lifted it, eyebrows raised in question. She nodded, so I passed it to her. “That tapestry was expensive, huh?”
Mimi’s skin turned sallow. “Hugh said it’s priceless, which means there’s no way this works out well for me.” And explained why she’d given in on their demands. Guilt was a powerful motivator.
She worried her lip. “Lydia said you had an extra room and wouldn’t mind if I stayed for a few days.”
“Ah.” I nodded, though I really did not know what those words meant. “That’s worse.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I had no idea you weren’t asked. I’ll just head out.”
“That’s not what’s worse. It’s no trouble to house you.
None.” It was, but not for the reasons Mimi would be thinking.
I wanted her too much already, and the proximity would test my manners and resolve.
But there was no growth without discomfort.
“I, er, meant it was worse that the team thought I needed a minder.” I waved that off as if I wasn’t panicking inside.
“And how could we have known some evil gremlin would leave an open outlet in the floor? Yeah, well, it is what it is.”
Actually, outside of the freak-out over my team’s lack of faith in me, I was thrilled about this turn of events. Mimi was here, and she planned to stay. To spend time with me. It might be fake, but she’d be mine for a while.
If I were charming enough, maybe forever… Probably too early to think like that. Definitely too early. “What’s your full name?”
“Emilia Hutton,” she replied.
“That’s pretty.”
She smiled.
I pulled out a sports drink, then clinked our drinks together. “ And you’ve already given me a nickname, so that’s all set.”
She paused before taking a sip. “I guess I did. Are you okay with me calling you Ev?”
I was glad I was on the other side of the island so she couldn’t tell how much I liked the sound of my name from her beautiful mouth.
“Yep. We’re good, Emmy.”
She flushed, and I liked that, too. So much so that I said, “To a fabulous week of getting to know each other and being the city’s newest obsession.”