Blair finally lets me go and, with a wink, she adds, “You should try to have more fun.”

I shoo her out of the house without comment, taking a moment afterward to rest my back against the door, her words still ringing in my ears. Am I nervous about sleeping in the same bed with Diego? A little… but we’re both adults and professionals. The situation might be awkward, but we don’t have to make a big fuss about it.

When I get back upstairs, Diego is not in the room. He probably followed me downstairs to go to the bathroom to get ready for the night. He and Paul are using the guest bathroom downstairs, while Julia and I share the one on this floor, and my parents have an en suite.

Did he overhear Blair and me talking? No, impossible. We were whispering.

While he’s gone, I shed my clothes at the speed of light and quickly change for bed, feeling glad I opted to bring un-sexy, warm PJs. The thought of bringing lacy lingerie instead had crossed my mind as I was packing, but then I decided that my butt would’ve frozen in skimpy underwear. And, honestly, the embarrassment of wearing close to nothing in front of Diego would’ve been too much. And anyway, it’s not like I have to seduce him or anything.

The door opens, and he walks in wearing only a black T-shirt and gray sweatpants—guess he doesn’t need special lingerie to look hot.

He eyes my outfit, the corners of his mouth curling up. “You’re sleeping in that?”

I stare down at my plush black hoodie, complete with kitty ears, and the matching mint leggings covered in a black cat print. “Yes, why? You don’t like it?”

Diego shakes his head. “Actually,” he says, as if he can’t believe his own words, “it’s kind of cute.”

So now I’m cute?

No, Nikki, the PJs are cute, not you.

Right.

“Well, thanks,” I mumble, trying not to blush. “And you’re sleeping in that?” I ask, pointing at his clothes.

“I don’t usually keep the sweatpants on, but I can tonight if it bothers you. I mean, am I even sleeping in the bed?”

“Mmm, yeah, where else would you sleep?”

“I thought you might send me to the floor.”

“No, no. There’s plenty of space in the bed, unless you… want to sleep on the floor?”

“No, definitely not.”

“Great,” I say, still feeling awkward. “I’ll go brush my teeth. Be right back.”

In the bathroom, I also splash my face with cold water. Why am I feeling so nervous? It’s ridiculous. And okay, I’m about to share a bed with a relative stranger, but there’s no romance involved, no expectations… So please, Nikki, stop being such a wuss and go sleep with the guy.