2
LEO
“Jillie,” I greet when she turns to face me.
“What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be icing something after last night instead of out here running?”
Her concern gives me hope that I haven’t ruined everything. It’s so endearing the way she winces at the bruises on my ribs and arms.
“If I don’t get up and move, I get tight. Not a good thing.”
“So, you get up at dawn to torture yourself further? Do your parents know about your masochistic tendencies? I think maybe you need to talk to a professional.”
Now I do laugh, and it brings a smile to her lips. Such a beautiful smile. If I didn’t know it was the sun, I’d say she brought the light. And now I’m waxing poetic like a sap. Even I don’t know who I am with the walls down.
“They don’t only know, they encourage it.”
“Sadists,” she teases.
“What are you doing out here?” I ask, already knowing she was here with Ainsley.
“I went for a walk with Elan. It was very short-lived. I don’t do well this early in the morning.”
“I heard he’s seeing Gianna Rothchild.”
She tilts her head to the side. “Yep, he is.”
I just nod, not knowing what to say or how to say it.
“We’re just best friends.”
She opened the door. Thank God it didn’t have to be me.
“It looked like more, more than once.”
“Looks can be deceiving.”
“That, they can.” I look out at the ocean. Don’t I know it. I’ve been deceiving everyone all of my life because everyone wants a piece of me… and, until now, I couldn’t tell who wanted me for real or for who I am. Here goes…“Look, Jillie. I’m sorry for being a dick. I’m just not used to letting people see past the walls I put up to protect myself, and that night on the beach, you saweverything.”
“So what? I’m not going to tell anyone you actually have a heart. That you love your little sister more than anything. That you have a hamster named Fred, or that your parents push you to be the best you can be. I could’ve told everyone everything, but I didn’t. That’s not who I am, Leo.”
I close my eyes a warmth surrounds my heart at the sound of my name on those sexy-as-hell lips. She remembers everything. I open them and meet her gaze.
“I know. It’s just tough to trust people, and you were new. You showed up, and I didn’t know who you were or if you wanted something from me. You were the unknown.”
“And now I’m not?” she asks. Rightfully so.
“Now you’re not.”
“How do you figure?” Her eyes darken, and her breathing speeds up. This is a good sign.
“I’ve been watching you, learning things about you,” I tell her honestly.
“Such as?”
Curious girl. Beautiful girl. Tenacious girl.Mygirl.
“You don’t like onions. You eat the same amount of food as me—which I find refreshing. You don’t care to dress up. You love your Chucks. I think you might have fifty pair for as often as you change colors. You don’t like it when someone doesn’t like you. I think it physically hurts you in some way. You hate being put in the spotlight when you’re sober, but when you’re drunk, you turn into Truthful Jillie, who tells it like it is, no matter who’s watching, no matter the cost.”
