“What?” I froze and looked at Xander and then Liv’s pink face. “You’re moving in with Xander?”
“Oh, boy.” He bit his lower lip and stepped back. “You didn’t tell her?” He looked at Liv and she glared at him.
“I’m sorry, Alice. I was going to tell you. And it’s not for—”
“We’ll talk later.” I made a face at her and then unmuted the phone. “Sorry about that,” I sang into the phone, my heart racing as I thought about Liv moving out.
“That’s okay,” Aiden said stiffly. “Where did you go?”
“I had another call,” I lied. “I just got asked out on a date.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, this guy I met last weekend. His name is Sylvester,” I said and I could see Xander rolling his eyes as if he couldn’t believe I was going down the lying road again.
“Sylvester Stallone?” Aiden asked and I laughed.
“Funny—not,” I said. “I didn’t say Rambo called me.”
“That’s good. I don’t think I can take Rambo on.”
“Oh?” My heart felt as if it were going to pop out of my chest then. What did he mean he couldn’t take Rambo on? Did that mean he liked me? Did he want to date me? My stomach was doing somersaults.
“Yeah.” He laughed. “He might not like you getting calls from guys, even if they’re just friends.”
“Oh yeah,” I said, suddenly deflated. “That’s true.”
“Anyway, I also just wanted to see if you were okay.”
“Okay?”
“After our Facebook chat the other day,” he said softly. “I wasn’t sure if I’d upset you.”
“Why would I be upset?” I squeaked out.
“I realize we’ve never really spoken about that night,” he said awkwardly. “And I wanted to apologize for what happened.”
“You wanted to apologize to me?” I said stiffly. The moment felt surreal, and then the room started to spin. How was it that he was calling to talk about that night just when I was talking about that night as well?
“I should have known better.” He sighed. “I shouldn’t have let it continue once I knew.”
“Once you knew what?” I said softly, my face burning in shame.
“Once I knew it was you in my bed.”
“You knew?” My jaw dropped. “Before the morning?” Excitement and hope ran through my veins at his words.
“Of course I knew, Alice.” His voice was husky. “How could I not have known?”
“But …” My voice trailed off. “I didn’t know you knew before the morning.”
“I wasn’t proud of myself.” He sighed. “But yes, I knew.” He cleared his throat. “I knew as soon as you got into the bed and wrapped your arms around my chest. Actually, I knew as soon as you walked into the bedroom. I could smell your strawberry fragrance hanging in the air as soon as the door opened.”
“I, uh—I don’t know what to say,” I squeaked out. I had loved that strawberry spray and the matching strawberry lotion. I’d worn them both so much that my mom had asked me if I wanted to move to a strawberry patch.
“I shouldn’t have brought it up. I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said softly. “I know we’re older now and we had some awkwardness recently, but I wanted to reach out and let you know that I consider you a part of the family, Alice, and I hope you know that.”
“Thanks,” I said softly, my head spinning. I was so confused. Why was he calling me? Did he like me or not? And what did he think about that night we’d spent together? Did he ever think about it? And did he ever think about me? Did he wish that he could have another night with me? Or did he wish that he could have many more nights with me?
“Anyway, I should go now,” he said cheerfully. “Tell Liv to text me back or call me when you see her. I hope to see you soon.”
“Where are you going?” I said, knowing I sounded pitiful, but I didn’t want the conversation to end.
“I have a date,” he said. “I’m taking her to a Degas exhibit.” He groaned. “Don’t I sound boring?”
“No,” I said lightly as my heart lurched.
“You’re too sweet, Alice,” he said, his voice sounding sexy as hell. “I just hope Elizabeth enjoys it.”
“Elizabeth Jeffries?” I said, unable to stop myself.
“Yes, how did you know?” He sounded surprised.
“Good guess,” I said and then sighed. “But I have to go. Talk to you soon.”
“Oh, okay. Bye, Alice,” he said softly, and I hung up. I looked at Liv and Xander and I knew that I looked like a sad case because that was how I felt—really sad and sorry for myself.
“What’s wrong?” Liv jumped up and ran toward me. “What did my brother say? God help me, but I’ll kill him if he was a jerk.”
“He has a date,” I said softly, my voice cracking.
“You did just tell him another guy had called you,” Xander said and closed his mouth as Liv glared at him.
“Oh, no.” She rubbed my shoulder.
“And he knew it was me that night.” I rubbed my forehead and then sank down into the couch. “He knew it was me before the next morning,” I said again in a daze. “I can’t believe it.” I shook my head and my mind went back to that night six years ago, the night that had been both the best and worst in my life. The night that I was determined to experience again. Only this time I was a woman and I sure wasn’t going to sneak out of the room the next morning with anything other than a grin and a well-loved body.