“Why’d you leave?”
She’s quiet, biting her lower lip. “Went to college, outside the city.”
Right away, I’m a little bit intimidated. I push it down because, again, I will not be fucking this up. No chance.
“You like it where you’re living in the city?” I ask.
She shrugs again, almost wistfully. “It’s fine. I have a nice apartment, but…I’ve had some life changes, and it’s a little less welcoming than before.”
I know about the ex-boyfriend, but now is not the time to bring him up. Not that I want to, because he had his shot and he fumbled it. Tonight is my turn.
“Had a few life changes myself,” I say lightly.
She laughs. “So I heard.”
We’re heading down the state route, past the road that used to lead up to the house where Aiden, Ryland, and I lived. Usually, I avoid driving this way, but tonight, I barely flick my eyes over the mailbox and winding gravel path. There’s a lot that disturbed me in the past, but it’s been months, and I have a thicker skin now—and a whole hell of a lot of carefully taught coping methods.
We pass by, and I don’t feel anything but a twinge of regret.
“You want to dance tonight?” I ask, leaning back and stretching my legs.
She glances sideways beneath her lashes. I like the way she does her makeup, smoky copper around her eyes and shimmer on her mouth. That gets me thinking about her mouth a little bit. My head goes on a journey it doesn’t mean to, and I drag it back just in time to catch her answer.
“I’d like to,” she says. “What about you though? You dance?”
“Not unless I got a good reason to.”
“And you do?”
“Better than a good reason tonight.”
She blushes again. Am I being smooth? We go back and forth a little bit like this, until the faint lights of Knifley appear in the distance. It’s crowded, being the weekend. I find us a spot in city parking, down at the end, and get out. She stays in place this time while I open her door. For a second, I have the choice to play it safe or take a chance. I choose the latter, holding out my arm so she can jump down against my side for the barest second.
I feel her, warm against my chest.
Then, she’s on her feet, smiling. Overhead, the streetlamps swirl in gold halos around her body. I think she might be the prettiest woman alive.
“You alright to walk about a block?” I ask.
She nods, and I step down on the curb, but she doesn’t move.
“Alright there?” I ask.
Shyly, she holds out her hand. “We’re walking but not holding hands? Hardly a date.”
My heart is in my throat, on my tongue. Carefully, I reach for her hand, shocked by how small it is. I’m a bigger guy, a few inches over six feet with a broad build. She barely comes up to my shoulder, but it’s still strange to feel how her hand disappears into mine. It’s also nice, and it makes me feel like I want to keep her safe.
“You ready?” I ask.
“I’m ready.” She gives me a glowing smile.
We walk, me moving on the outside because Ed told me to do it that way, and it makes sense. Up ahead, the Left Boot has its doors wide open, yellow light streaming out onto the street. It’s pretty full as we approach but not jam packed. Actually, it’s the right amount of people to feel relaxed, but not enough to be suffocating. We duck in through the door and head to an empty space at the bar. I pull out her chair, and she waits for me to help her up.
I like that.
“What are you drinking?” I ask, leaning on the counter.
She considers, scanning the wall of bottles. “How about a beer?”
