I open my mouth to fix it.
But the way he’s looking at me…
Yeah, no, the door not only opened,
it slammed shut behind me,
locking me in here with him.
Nothing helpful followed me in either.
Just—
“The feeling… consumes me,” I explain.
“Every time I hear it? Chest tight, heart pounding, goosebumps, and my throat closes up. Like I can’t breathe, and somehow, it’s the first time I can breathe, too? It’s?—”
God. No. Pivot.
I laugh, breathe, try to fix it.
“Okay, scratch all that.
“Angel’sabout needing someone so bad
“it makes yousick.”
I throw up my hands in defense.
“Steven’s words, not mine.
“But for me it’s like a scream—a-please-don’t-leave-me cry… And I like that it doesn’t pretend to be healthy… It’s messy. Brutally honest. A surrender—bruised knees from beggin’ and all.
“It’s not a love song,” I finish.
“It’s an I’m-not-okay-without-you song…”
His smirk fades slow,
like he doesn’t notice it’s leaving.
He says nothing, gaze steady.
I should shut up.
Change the subject.
Make a joke.
“Forget it,” I say. “Next ridiculous question.”
He’s watching me with navy and chocolate eyes,
surrounded by thick lashes behind his glasses.
And they’re making me say stupid shit.
“Ever try explaining something, and the more you talk, the worse it gets, but you can’t stop, so you’re like—” I throw up my hand.“Ahh, Allison, shut the fuck up.”
