“What are you, twenty-four?Twenty-five?”
“Twenty-five, who cares?”
Whoa.
“You’re only twenty-five and you made all of that?”Hejerked his head to the window to indicate the store beyond.
“Jagger!”she snapped.“Focus.”
He grinned.“Babe.”
“Oh my God,” she said quietly, her stare hinting at being aglare.“Are you really this annoying?”
“Just to say, you’re only twenty-five, I’m twenty-seven,there are no windows that are closed for us.Unless you haven’t stanned for aboy band.I think for any cool chick like you, at your age, your window isclosed for that.”
“You can be cute,” she was still talking quietly, but hertone was completely different, “but you’re still too late.”
He was talking quietly too, when he asked, “Too late forwhat?”
“Me.”
Shit.
“You married?”he asked.
She shook her head.
“Engaged?”he went on.
“Jagger—”
“Are you taken, Archie?”
She held his eyes.
Hers were black.
She had mixed blood, that was obvious, and everything shegot out of however that fusion came about was perfection.
Including her deep-set eyes that dipped down at the innercorners.
But she didn’t answer his question.
Which was an answer to his question.
So he kept going.
“Iwannaknow what’s happeningwith your family.And Iwannaknow why you got abunch of kids hanging at your store.And Iwannaknowabout these Harris brothers, and how much trouble they’re causing you, butmostly Mal.I alsowannatake you out to dinner.Iwannasee a picture of your mom because I’ve wondered whatshe looked like, considering how pretty you are, since the minute I set eyes onyou.I want you to meet my dad who isn’t my real dad and Iwannashare a drink and a game of pool with you in my MC’s compound.Iwannabe your friend, Archie.Iwannatake this where we should have taken it years ago.But to be clear, I also wantmore.I’m attracted to you.Iwannaknow how youtaste and what you feel like and the noises you’ll make when I turn you on.That’s where I’m at right now and I want you to be there with me.”
He took a breath and she didn’t utter a word.
Which was good.
Because he wasn’t done.
“So last, yougottaknow, I refuseto accept that our window is closed.If you believe in God or fate or destinyor karma or whatever, I was there for you the day you needed me the most.And Imay have fucked up along the way, but I’m standing right here telling you,unless shit goes south in a way neither of us can turn that tide, I’ll alwaysbe there for you.”
When he was done with that, she turned her head away.
