He shrugged, playing it off. “I don’t know, maybe he’s upset that you won’t let me see your dress.”

Leila rolled her eyes. “It’s just a dress, Henrik.”

“Right now, but when you put it on, it’s a torture device.”

“I’m not even going to ask about what exactly I’m torturing,” she said with a laugh.

He smiled over at her. “So, what do you want to do tonight, since I’m obviously not going to get a preview of tomorrow’s top secret look?”

She shrugged, yawning. “Stay in, I guess. I’m pretty tired.”

Something tugged at him from the inside, and it hurt. “You’ve been getting tired a lot lately.”

She shot him a warning look. “You keep saying that.”

“I know.”

“Have you ever been shopping with Drew?” she asked, a little more defensive than the situation required. “It’s exhausting.”

“Actually, I have, and yes, you’re right,” he joked back, but it didn’t go unnoticed that she avoided the question. “We can stay in. I don’t mind.”

She nodded curtly and relaxed into the couch. “Want to watch a movie?”

He knew he needed to let it go for now, but soon he’d have to convince her to talk about it. If not for him, for Drew’s sanity, at least.

“Depends.” He smiled, flipping the remote over in his hand. “Does it include cuddling?”

“Cuddling?” She snorted while taking a black wristband and tying her hair into a messy bun on top of her head. “Seriously?”

“What? You don’t cuddle?”

“Yes,” she laughed. “I didn’t think it would be your type of thing.”

He scowled at her before reaching over and pulling her to him. “Oh, yeah. Hugging up to a beautiful woman sounds horrible.”

She laughed. “You know what I mean. Cuddling is—”

“Intimate?”

He held her stare for a moment, the unspoken sentiment loud between them. He started to speak, only to be interrupted when Drew reentered the room. “Hey, I’m going out for a while. I’ll be back by midnight, probably.”

He turned, and for the first time, Drew didn’t scowl at the sight of him being so close to Leila, even though he had his arms wrapped entirely around her waist. Instead, he smiled.

There was something definitely wrong with him.

“Wait a second,” he said, letting go of Leila to sit up straight. He studied Drew, his once red eyes almost back to normal. “You’re going out, looking like that?”

Drew looked down at his skinny jeans and sneakers, confused. “Yeah? What’s wrong with it?”

“No one, especially you, wears sneakers to a club. And what kind of shirt is that, anyway?” He scooted to the edge of the couch, eyeing his brother skeptically. “Vancouver Giants? Really?”

“What’s wrong with the Vancouver Giants?”

“They’re a hockey team. You don’t wear hockey stuff.”

“I wear your Rangers stuff all the time. Have you seen the number of jerseys in my closet?”

“Yeah. That’s the point. You wear my Rangers stuff, because I give it to you. I’ve never played hockey for the Giants.”

“What are you trying to accuse him of, exactly?” Leila asked, smiling between the two of them.

“He’s not going out,” he said with certainty. “He’s going somewhere specific, and he’s not telling us.”

That brought Drew up short. He looked at Leila and then back to Henrik. “Look, just because your social life has been put on indefinite hold doesn’t mean you have to start nosing around in mine.”

Henrik shot an accusing glare at his brother. “You’re going out to meet someone, aren’t you?”

Drew clenched his teeth and sighed. “Something like that. I just need to get out of the house for a while. I thought, considering the PDA-fest going on in here, you wouldn’t mind.”

Henrik’s mouth fell open. “Do you have a boyfriend you’re not telling me about?”

“For a while now,” Leila informed him with a chuckle. “We’re not allowed to meet him, so don’t bother asking about it.”

“The hell we’re not allowed to meet him. Who is he?”

Drew crossed his arms over his chest. “Thanks a lot, Leila. I thought you were done being a blabbermouth.”

“He already figured it out.” She laughed, walking over to hug her best friend. “And you promised I could be here, remember?”

“Answer the question, Drew. Why can’t I meet him?”

“Because,” he said roughly, grabbing a jacket off the rack next to the door.

“That’s not an acceptable answer.”

“Well, we don’t all get what we want in life. Obviously, considering I am voluntarily leaving you two here alone. Consider it a compromise. I’ll stay out of your business, and you stay out of mine.”

He swung his jacket over his shoulders and headed toward the door. Henrik jumped up from the couch to follow him. “You say that like I’d try and screw up your relationship or something. I just want to know who my brother is spending his time on.”

Drew held the door open and smiled back at his brother. “One day,” he promised. “But not tonight. That was his decision, not mine.”

Drew closed the door, leaving Henrik stunned, staring at it. He turned around to face Leila, his nose scrunched up. “Did he just imply his boyfriend doesn’t want to meet me?”

She placed a consoling hand on his forearm. “Well, you can be intimidating.”

“I’m being serious.”

“Give him a break. You are the most important person in your brother’s life. Meeting you is equivalent to meeting his parents. It’s a big deal.”

He looked back at the door, as if somehow hoping it would magically reopen and Drew would invite them out with him. “I just want to be involved,” he admitted. “I don’t want to be left in the dark anymore.”

“If it makes you feel any better, the reason I know about him is because I intentionally snoop on his phone conversations.”

“Seriously?”

“The kid has good game.”

“Of course.” He grinned proudly. “He’s a Rylander.”

She smiled before making her way back to the couch, stretching her arms over her head and yawning. “No, none of that,” he instructed, scooting in beside her.

He pulled her closer, thrilled when she willingly allowed him to wrap his arms around her again. She leaned into his body and placed her head delicately on his shoulder. He smiled when she began to hum contentedly. Her big green eyes rose to meet his. “What?” he asked. “You look like you want to ask me something.”

“Are you really okay with this?”

“Cuddling? Definitely. I say we make this like a nightly routine.”

“No.” She smiled. “I mean our situation. Is our arrangement still working out for you?”

“It’s barely been a week,” he said, laughing. “Geez. Give me a little bit of credit.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you. I just wanted to tell you that if you change your mind, ever, if you could just be honest and tell me instead of—”

“I’m not Derek.” He pulled her back so he could see her face flushed with embarrassment. It was time he said it, because he wanted her to know. “You have my word on that.”

She nodded, snuggling into his shirt. “Thank you.”

It was quiet as they got comfortable, and the beginning credits of the movie began. “Leila,” he whispered in her ear.

She looked up.

“Can I ask you for something without you getting too upset?”

“Too upset?” She leaned back, wary.

“Can you stop sleeping in Drew’s bed?”

She snorted and lay back down.

“It’s not funny.”

“I know.” The corner of her mouth twitched, almost a smile. “I haven’t slept in his bed since our talk. I thought he told you.”

“It must have slipped his mind,” he growled.

She sniggered, yawning again. “That sounds like him.”

He cuddled in close to her, feeling better already. It didn’t take Leila long to drift off to sleep. He picked her up and carried her to her bedroom. Her eyes opened as he settled her down on the bed. “You’re leaving?” she whispered, smiling into her pillow.

“I wouldn’t want to fail my first room check.” He didn’t want to leave. Drew’s words still haunted him, but he knew better than to push his luck. “I’ll see you tomorrow for our date.”