I open my mouth to protest but my dad speaks before I can.
“That’s nice of you, Hollis.”
Hollis gives me a triumphant grin. I wish I could smack it off his too handsome face.
He doesn’t say anything as we head out onto the street. We’re a block away before he speaks.
“We’re really not good at this whole friends thing.”
I sigh heavily, crossing my arms over my chest. His eyes go straight to my boobs and I glare at him before dropping my arms. “Eyes up here, bud,” I scold, giving him a look. He merely grins from ear to ear at me, not at all bothered. “And no, we’re not,” I add with a sigh.
“What is it about me that bothers you so much?” he inquires. He tries not to look bothered by the question, but I can tell he’s worried about my answer.
We reach the end of the street and I push the button so we can wait for the signal to cross.
“It’s not you per se,” I hedge, looking out to the street beyond so I don’t have to meet that amber eyed gaze. “It’s … it’s what you stand for.”
“What I stand for?” He practically snorts. “What the ever-loving fuck does that mean?”
I force myself to turn to him, having to tilt my head up to look at his face. “I refuse to be some casual fling—it’s not me. I’m not saying I need promises and declarations of love and marriage, but I won’t be yet another girl who falls in your bed once never to be seen or heard from again. Because despite everything I actually like you, Hollis, and I won’t lose a friendship or whatever this is because of sex.”
“You’re not even talking to me right now,” he growls as we stalk across the street finally. “I don’t see how you can call me your friend when you won’t speak to me or barely even deem me worthy to look at.”
His shadow nearly blocks out the sun as he towers over me, his body curled so close to mine as we walk I’m surprised I’m not being sucked into his vortex.
“Are you sure you’re protecting yourself from me or you?” He continues and I nearly trip from his close proximity.
“If we made a pro-con list of all the reasons why something between us is a good idea or bad idea—bad would win.”
His eyes flash. “Forget a fucking chart, Mia. What does your heart say?”
Right now my heart says I want to push my body into him and press my lips against the angry hard line of his and kiss him until I forget my name, forget everything. But I don’t tell him that.
“My heart says I can’t do this right now,” I snarl back, picking up my pace. With my long legs I get ahead for all of two seconds before he’s right there beside me.
“You’re lying,” he bites out the words, his anger making them short and clipped.
I feel tears begin to prick my eyes but I hold them back.
“You’re scared,” he says, his voice softer than before but still with an edge.
“No, I’m not,” I lie.
“It’s okay to be scared,” he says, his tone softer. “Fear isn’t something to ever be ashamed of.”
“And tell me, Hollis, what are you afraid of?” I challenge, hands on my hips. We’re stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, but thankfully there aren’t many people on the street.
He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. His golden eyes stare into mine and he presses his lips together before admitting, “Never being good enough.”
Something about his words is like a kick to the stomach. He looks utterly vulnerable and I want to slap myself. Hollis is a lot of things, but at his core he’s like everyone else, looking for someone to understand him completely.
For some odd reason he thinks I’m that person.
He reaches out a gentle hand, cupping my chin between his fingers. My heart beats a mighty rhythm in time with my breaths.
“I know I’m not the kind of guy you think is worth taking a chance on, but I’m willing to prove you wrong. I will prove you wrong.” He ducks his head, his lips sweeping against my cheek before they find my ear. “I’ll be waiting when you’re ready.”
He turns from me then, walking ahead, and I can do nothing but follow along.