“Hey, I don’t know what’s going on in her head. And believe me, I’ve tried to figure her out. But eventually, I got exhausted. So I try really hard to keep her at arm’s length. I help when and where I can, and I work to let the rest go. I realized I could get a lot further in life when I try to make sure I know what’s going on in my own head.”
“You’re a genius.” I don’t mean to say something so generic, but with Haley, I mean it sincerely.
She’s the smartest person I’ve ever met. With people, with numbers, with science, and with life. She just gets how the game of life works. Far better than I do.
“I know you’re carrying a lot of pain around with your family issues,” I say. “But how the hell do you make it look so easy?”
“I make what look easy?”
“Living.”
“I do?”
“You do.” I frown. “Honestly, Haley, I’d like to be more like you.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see her smile. “You want to learn how to relax, Liam?”
God, yes.
She doesn’t say anything else, but a half hour later, when we’ve settled into a back booth at an Italian restaurant and are halfway through our lunch of chicken Parmigiana subs, Haley shoots me a pensive look.
“What is it?” I ask her.
She holds out her hand palm up. “Put your hand over mine.”
I do as she says.
Her palm is hot, so hot that the heat blazes into mine.
Our chemistry is still nuclear, and as I look at her, I don’t try to hide the fact that I’m aware of it.
What surprises me is…
She doesn’t either.
In fact, she leans into it.
She flicks her tongue over her bottom lip and winks at me.
She fuckingwinksat me.
And it’s all I can do not to lean across the table, cover her mouth with mine, and kiss her again. This time, I wouldn’t stop unless she asked me to.
I clench my teeth so hard my jaw hurts.
“Let’s make a promise,” she says in a conspiratorial tone.
“Okay.” I’d agree to just about anything right now.
“I’ll teach you how to relax on this trip. By the time we arrive in Montana, you’ll be so laid back your brothers won’t recognize you.”
I chuckle. “I don’t know about that, darling, but sure. I’m game.”
“And you’ll teach me…” She hesitates.
Her eyes widen behind her glasses, and her pink lips part like she’s unsure.
“Haley?” I prompt her. “What do you want me to teach you?”
