“Oh, sure,” she said, ducking her gaze to the ground.
He’d seen it though—the pink in her cheeks before she’d hidden from him.
He bit back a smile. She was so freaking pretty.
He took her container and set them both on the hood of her car and swapped one of her cookies for three of his brownies.
“That’s too much,” she murmured.
“Trust me, when you try one of Denise’s brownies, you will want more.”
“Okay,” she said softly, and when he looked over at her, her left eye was blazing green.
“You don’t have to be scared of me, you know,” he said softly. “Or any of the Rogue Pack. We only speak kindly of you. Destiny loves you.”
She shifted her weight and canted her head. “She’s not angry?”
Vic shook his head. “You should meet up with her. Do you want a break from the suck? Destiny is one of those good-souled people to be around. She’s medicine.”
Lyric stole her pretty gaze away from him again and looked at the ground. “I could use some medicine. I’ll think about it.”
Vic inhaled a steady breath and took a shot. “Can we trade numbers now too?”
“As friends?” she asked.
“Sure. As whatever you want. I had fun tonight.”
“You’ll give it to Destiny before I’m ready.”
“What if I promise to keep it to myself?”
She lifted that pretty gaze. God, she was beautiful. He wished he could blurt that out, but they were strangers, and Lyric had the ability to disappear into thin air. She’d done as much after the war.
“We aren’t supposed to be friends.”
“I don’t care about that. You shouldn’t either.”
“I’m stuck caring,” she said low.
“Get unstuck.”
“It’s not that simple.”
Vic sighed. “So, no?”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
He forced a smile and offered his hand for a shake. “Tonight was one of my favorite nights I can remember,” he said. Oh, even he could hear the truth in his voice.
She slipped her smaller hand into his and shook it. “For me too.” Truth.
He didn’t want to let her hand go. He didn’t want to say goodbye. He wanted to kiss her and get her addicted to him. He wanted to steal her phone and text himself from it just so he could have a connection with her. So he could text her how muchfun he had later tonight before he went to bed. So he could text her good morning tomorrow and ask her more about herself.
But…Lyric wasn’t ready.
He released her hand and stepped back, taking his container of brownies with him. “It was good to meet you, Lyric the Turner.”
“Likewise, Vicious the Bingo Player.”
