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because Tate is a giant asshat, okay?”
    “Uh, okay?”
    “I got your ‘that thing we spoke about’ cue yesterday, and I’ve noticed that whenever you’re around him you get kind of . . . skittish.” She frowns. “That might not be the right word, but whatever. Anyway,” she meets my eyes, “and after he’s pulled his ‘me macho man’ crap, you’re the same around the rest of the guys. If Tate is makin’ you uncomfortable in any way, tell me, and I’ll talk to him.”
    “Oh.” My cheeks flush. “It’s okay.”
    “Ella, seriously. Y’all have to work together and be comfortable around each other, and you definitely shouldn’t be uncomfortable enough that you have to leave.”
    “It’s not Tate.” I replace my mascara into my makeup bag. “I just . . . I’m not a guy kind of girl.”
    “Oh!” Sofie claps her hands over her mouth. “Well, I just put my foot in my mouth, didn’t I? I’m so sorry! Wait—no, I’m sorry, I’m an ass, not that . . . you know.”
    My eyes widen as the implications of my words settle in. “Crap! I don’t mean—oh hell.” I cover my face with my hands. “Well, this is awkward. I’m not into girls. Like, I don’t mean it like that.” My eyes are seriously doing some kind of shifty dance right now. “I mean I’m not looking for a relationship. With a guy. Right now. I like guys. Oh God. I should probably stop talking right now.”
    Sofie laughs loudly. “Oh shit, now I really am sorry!” She gets up, still giggling. “Okay. I got it. But if Tate does make you uncomfortable, you’ll tell me, right?”
    I want to join her in her laughter, because since the second I met Tate Burke’s eyes, I’ve been uncomfortable. “He’s okay. He just has a distinct lack of understanding about personal space.”
    We share a smile at that.
    “That’s because no one generally complains when Tate encroaches on their personal space. He’s invited in most times.” She holds open my room door and passes me the key card. “Here. I need to go back to my room to get Conner and Mila. Could you just knock on Aidan’s and Kye’s doors and tell them we’re ready to go? They’re the next two rooms. Tate’s at the end, but I’ll get his lazy ass.”
    “Oh. Sure.” I ignore the flutter of uncertainty. “Just knock and tell them it’s time to go?”
    “Yep. They need a ten-minute warning because they’re a bunch of girls.” She smiles and opens her room door.
    “Who you callin’ a bunch of girls?” Conner appears in my line of sight, Mila clinging to his back like a sea snail.
    “Your brothers,” Sofie replies without missing a beat. “Ella’s about to get Kye and Ads, then I’ll get Tate in a minute. Can you take Mila down and strap her in to the car?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Conner winks at me and drops Mila on the sofa.
    “Idiot.” Sofie rolls her eyes, then turns to me with a wide, reassuring smile. “I’ll meet you in the lobby in five minutes.”
    “Sure.” I smile, but it’s weak. Lame. Pathetic.
    Sweet hell, she only wants me to knock on doors and tell them it’s time to go. Not rub myself against them like a cat. I don’t even have to have a conversation, right? Just, “Hi, we’re going in ten. Bye!”
    Simple, right?
    Yeah. Simple. I just . . . ugh. This is so dumb. I should not fear knocking on a door, for the love of all nachos and wine!
    The door to Sofie’s room closes and I lean against the wall. With my purse by my feet, I drop my head back and close my eyes as an overwhelming sense of apprehension floods me.
    Was I really this weak with Matthew?
    Am I really so afraid and run-down that knocking on a door is fear-inducing?
    Dammit all to hell.
    I slap my hands against my cheeks hard. “Pull yourself together, Ella!” I whisper.
    “Talkin’ to yourself is the first sign of insanity,” a voice behind me says.
    I turn and look at Kye. Or is it Aidan? Dammit, they look so alike. I drop my eyes to his left arm. A