Chapter 470
“Where are you running off to? Don’t you want a hug?” the man asked, his voice laced with a teasing lilt.
“Who wants your hug?” Elissa Drummond’s pride made her instinctively deny it.
However, in the next second, Rowan Murphy stood up. Using the gentle tug on her pinky finger, he effortlessly pulled her into his arms, wrapping her in a firm and steady embrace.
He held her tightly against his chest, a soft chuckle vibrating in his throat. “Fine, then I want you to hug me. How about that p>
“Aren’t you going to hold me tight p>
The man’s chest was warm and broad, the steady thud of his heartbeat drumming against her eardrums. With every breath, she inhaled his familiar, woodsy scent.
This unexpected embrace made her restless heart, which had felt untethered for days, finally begin to settle.
Hearing his words, Elissa’s ears burned even hotter. Gathering her courage, she lifted her arms from her sides, ready to wrap them around his waist.
Ding-dong.
The sudden ring of the doorbell made her jump.
Rowan glanced down and scoffed playfully. “Why so tense? It’s not like we’re having an illicit affair p>
A faint sound of the lock turning followed.
Tanya Foster must be back early!
Elissa hurriedly pushed him away, shooting him a glare before sprinting to the door. “Coming p>
“I’m just saying,” Rex Wilkinson’s voice squeezed through the crack as the door opened, “they finally get a chance to live together, and you just have to crash the party p>
Tanya fired back without missing a beat. “Who knows if it’s consensual cohabitation or if your buddy is just being a creep? I had to come back and check p>
The moment the door swung wide, six eyes met.
Elissa heard them, and they knew Elissa heard them.
Tanya immediately spotted Elissa’s bright red ears. She cleared her throat and
asked in a low, cautious voice, “Should I… not have come back p>
From the looks of it, it didn’t seem like Rowan was being a creep.
Elissa wanted nothing more than to cover Tanya’s mouth. She pulled her friend
inside. “Stop talking nonsense. Why are you back early p>
“I… I just wanted to check on you and drop off some food p>
Tanya’s mind worked fast, and her actions were even faster. She hastily dumped a large takeout bag on the dining table and reading the room perfectly, prepared to flee. “Alright, I’m heading out p>
Originally, when she moved in with Elissa, she had only planned on a short stay to keep her company.
As time passed, they both got used to it, but Tanya had never canceled the lease on her old apartment, keeping it for emergencies.
Well, the emergency was here.
Off to the side, Rex also noticed Elissa’s flushed face. Without warning, he shot Rowan a deadly glare.
How shameless.
Coming into a girl’s apartment to act like a creep.
Rowan completely ignored him. He walked over to the dining table and was about to speak when Elissa looked up at him forcing a brigh Smale. “Rexts back too. Why don’t you go crash at his place p>
After all, with the Murphy Group’s usual efficiency, the online scandal would be
scrubbed completely clean in less than five days.
Once that happened, her mentors would move out.
He would only need to stay at Rex’s place for three or four days, tops.
She looked entirely like someone choosing her best friend over her man.
Rowan’s face darkened. He replied with clear disgust, “His place is always a pigsty. I’m not going p>
Fearing he might try to kick her
Vel
mentors out just to stay, Elissa quickly explained, “I’m just worried that sleeping on the couch every night will ruin your back content
Before she could even finish, a stifled burst of laughter echoed from the side.
This time, the look Rex gave Rowan was purely one of shared pity, though he couldn’t wipe the massive grin off his face.
Tsk, tsk.
He had to beg just for the privilege of sleeping on the couch.