Billion Dollar Boyfriend (Celebrity Love)

Chapter Seven

Shelby laid awake in her bed the next morning, nestled in a cocoon of blankets. Her eyelids had opened to daylight almost an hour ago, but she was content to stay curled up against her pillows as images from the night before flitted through her mind. She pictured the moment her lips had met Aiden's for their first kiss while the piano in the music room at the Magic Castle played in the background. Next, she remembered the second kiss they had shared outside of her apartment when he had walked her to her door. And then there had been the third one, the kiss he'd left her with, which made her weak at the knees to think about even now.

She touched her mouth, the lingering memory of Aiden's mouth pressed against hers sending little sparks through her from head to toe. It was all she had thought about last night as she'd washed her face and gotten ready for bed, and as she had attempted to fall asleep, trying to calm her racing pulse.

First dates had never left her craving the presence of someone, and yet her evening with Aiden had. If anything, a first date normally left her debating with herself over if she wanted to go out with a guy for a second time. Not even the first date she had gone on with Darren in college, which had led to a years-long relationship, had left her in this state. It could be lust, but whatever this was with Aiden, it felt like something more—something that sent adrenaline pumping through her veins and left her feeling happy to be alive.

Shelby turned on her side and eyed her phone, which she had left charging on her night table. She'd been forcing herself to leave it there since last night, afraid she wouldn't be able to stop herself from sending Aiden a text. She had wanted to at least try to play it calm and cool for a few hours, even if she'd felt anything but that since getting home the night before.

Now she reached for the phone, noticing as she brought it closer that there was a message waiting for her on the screen.

Can't stop thinking about you. I had an amazing time with you last night. Is it too soon to ask if you're free again tomorrow?

She looked at the time Aiden had sent the text and saw it had been four minutes ago. At least she wouldn't be responding the second he had sent it if she answered him now. The only hurdle she had to get past was how to tell him yes without accidentally adding fifty million exclamation points or making herself sound too available. There had to be something witty and chill-sounding she could answer him with. She just had to think of it, and become someone who was both witty and chill.

After a minute of staring at her screen, she concluded it wasn't going to happen. I had an amazing time with you, too, she typed back. I'm up for doing something tomorrow. What time were you thinking?

A reply appeared on her screen almost instantly. Mid-morning, if you're good with that. I have something in mind. Can I call you later?

Yes! she typed. Talk soon.

Okay—so an exclamation point had snuck in. She was still proud of herself for keeping it at a single one.

She re-read their text conversation, smiling to herself as she did. If she was going to talk to him later, it probably meant she should get out of bed, rather than daydream the day away.

Shelby got up and walked over to the mirror on her bedroom wall. She picked her hairbrush up from where she'd left it on top of her dresser the night before and swiped it through her hair. As she did, she heard the muffled sound of the apartment door opening, followed by a set of footsteps entering the foyer.

She didn't hear voices, and it sounded like there was only one person walking around. That meant Raine wasn't here with Emily, which was good. She knew Em would ask about her date, and she didn't want to girl-talk in front of Raine about one of his close friends.