“She can’t say anything that changes who you are,” I tell her. “Who your dadis.”
I release her arm, brush a thumb over her cheek, and watch the conflicting emotions scroll across herface.
The scratch has healed, like my hand, but we can’t go back to the way we werebefore.
There was always a connection between us, and I’m starting to seewhy.
We have the same pain even though we’ve never talked about it. Even though we deal with itdifferently.
I bury mine so deep it can’t get surface, buthers…
She breathes it every day. Lives through it, makes the world more beautiful despite all ofit.
Annie grabs her cue back from me but doesn’t step away. “I don’t want your pity, okay? I want to play pool. And laugh. And pretend I’m some college freshman out late on a school night and I shaved my legs for a goodreason.”
“Fine. Don’t move.” She wants to play grown-up, I can dothat.
I turn back to the table, rounding the felt and making quick work of the two ball before returning to exactly my previous position, inches away from her. I can smell her shampoo or body wash, something simple and floral, and I want to drop my face to her neck so I can figure out which itis.
She lifts a brow in amusement, as if she notices how close I am,too.
“What happened with Kellan Saturday night?” I ask. “Until you stumbled into my pool house, you looked like you wanted his hands onyou.”
She swallows, her full lips parting. The vulnerability on her face slices through me. “I was never into Kellan. I thought he sawme.”
Fuck.
No matter what I promised Jax, if I’d met her tonight, looking likethis?
I’d lead her into one of these shadowy corners and show her I seeher.
In the dark, I see thisgirl.
Laughter drags my attention toward a couple a few years older who’ve been flirting at the bar. They shift off the stools, him wrapping an arm around her as they make out on the way past us to thedoor.
By the time I turn back, Annie’s gone. Slipped past me to plan her next attack on thetable.
We trade shots back and forth, careful not to tread on anything too personal, as if we both recognize we got tooclose.
Best new band you’ve found thisyear.
Most embarrassing moment atOakwood.
Vacation you dream of taking aftergraduation.
Book you were forced to read for English class that you secretlylove.
Even though we’re steering clear of dangerous territory, we’re getting to know each other again, and it feelsgood.
Finally, there’s one shot left. The angle’s terrible. There’s almost no way to catch the three without sinking theeight.
“You got a plan for that?” I ask, coming up behindher.
“Working onit.”
“I can already taste my cheese fries,” I saysolemnly.
She bends over the table, her dress inching up the backs of her thighs. “Better grab your wallet,then.”