Tai stared down at the floor for a moment, choosing. He could keep fighting it. Keep trying to put her out of his head. Or he could admit everything and see what Ryker thought. He looked up and met Ryker’s eyes.
“I thought I was over her.”
Ryker’s phone began to slide through his hand. He caught it just in time. He should have asked who Tai could possibly be talking about. Instead he said, “Claire.”
Tai ran a hand over his face. “How transparent am I?”
“Only thing that makes sense,” Ryker said. “Y’all were like oil and water at the bach party.”
“Shouldn’t that be a sign Iamover her?”
“Um, no.” Ryker laughed. “Unresolved romantic tension, man. Come on, I’m pretty clueless about this stuff and I know that much.”
“Not clueless. Engaged.”
“Leslie’s different. Leslie and I have always been good, right, easy. We just work.”
If only Tai could say the same about him and Claire. If only he could just say it to her, all of it. That he cared. That he had for a long time. That she set his blood to fizzing and sparking every time he saw her. Instead she called him “nemesis” and accused him of every character flaw she could think of. And he couldn’tset the record straight without telling her the truth, and the truth would just add one more flaw to her list. The worst flaw.
“You’re overthinking it,” Ryker said. “Just start from scratch. Find reasons to get to know her. And when the time’s right, you tell her about the bloodfiend thing.”
“No,” Tai said.
“Look, do you want to be with her? Is that what you’re trying to say to me?”
“I…I don’t know. I want the chance, I guess.”
“Why?”
“Why?” Tai shook his head, bounced in place with sudden irritated energy. “Because she’s fierce, Ryker. Fierce for her people. She’s smart, assertive, witty, principled, and absolutely gorgeous.”
Ryker’s face broke out in the most ridiculous grin of their entire friendship. His blue eyes sparked silver with delight and mischief. “Whoa. Dude. I had no idea.”
“Because I tried to get her out of my head. Because she can’t stand me.”
“How many times do I have to tell you this? Claire’s grudge isn’t based on reality. So you’ve got the solution, Tai. Just tell her the freaking truth already.”
He tried to imagine it. The words he would say. The look on her face.
And the weightlessness collapsed.
Tai dropped to a seated position on the mat, drew his knees to his chest, and hid his face. For a moment, probably as startled by his movement as Tai was himself, Ryker went statue-still. Then he dropped down to sit beside Tai. He put a hand on Tai’s shoulder and squeezed hard. He didn’t say another word until, a few minutes later, Tai was able to lift his head.
“There’s no way she’d put up with it,” he said quietly.
“Why not?” Ryker said, keeping his hand firm on Tai’s shoulder.
“Because…because…”
“How many people know you’re a bloodfiend?”
“A few dozen, probably.”
Ryker’s grip tightened for a moment in protest. “I’m not talking about your family. They suck. Period.”
“You know the answer, Ryker.” Tai extended his legs, then crossed them. As they talked it out, the weight grew lighter, and the instinct to hide grew less.
“Unless you’ve told somebody else in the last few days.”
