“Well, I hope you weren’t planning on a well-balanced meal.” She grins, biting her lip.
“What?” I squint, tilting my head. “Why, what did we order?”
“Well, I ordered fries and a strawberry shake. You ordered ‘same.’”She uses air quotes as she says it.
I laugh. “I can’t think of anything better, actually.”
Her smile widens.
I could sit in this booth with her for a lifetime. Come to think of it, I haven’t felt this relaxed since my dad made me a prospect. That’s the problem. I can’t force myself away because being near her is the best I’ve ever felt.
She’s the sun, and I’m stuck in her orbit.
17
ASH
MAY PRESENT DAY
You are quite pretty, sweetheart.
I wake with a gasp. Glancing around the room, my shoulders finally relax.Just a nightmare.
For a moment, I don’t remember last night, but all at once, everything comes flooding back.
I’m still in my clothes. Rubbing my eyes, black mascara smudges onto my fingers. How did I end up in my bed? I remember Gabe dragging me out of the bar, but that’s about it.
Damn it, he must have carried me inside. Of all the men in the world, why did it have to be him? It’s not enough that he broke my heart, but it seems I’m destined to embarrass myself in front of him for eternity.
I slide out of bed, move to the dresser, and strip off my smoke-infused clothes before throwing on a T-shirt and wiping the leftover makeup from my face.
I get all of two steps out of my room before almost falling over my own feet when I see what’s on the couch. The man who haunts every one of my dreams is stretched out, fully clothed, with an arm tucked under his head. Iwalk over to where his sweatshirt’s draped over the back of the couch and throw it at him.
“Get the fuck out,” I bark.
Startling awake, he sits up, rubs his eyes, and squints at me.
“Good morning to you too, sunshine.” Noticing my bare legs, he lifts a brow.
“No. It’s not a good morning. A man I hate is on my couch. Get out,” I repeat, trotting to the kitchen. If I have any chance of surviving today, I need coffee immediately.
“You know, a thank you would be nice,” he yells from the living room.
“Thanks for the ride. You’re welcome for the accommodation. Get. Out.”
He appears in the doorway, leaning on his shoulder. “We could have coffee.”
“Or we could not. I’d prefer it if I never saw you again,” I bite, avoiding his eyes. I don’t want to see if it hurts him. I just want him to disappear.
“Ouch. Okay. Well, I’ll go then,” he says, but he doesn’t move.
“You do that. I need to get busy on the house, and I can’t do that if I’m occupied throwing you out.”
When I glance back, he’s gone. I move to the doorway of the kitchen, watching as he grabs his shit.
Before reaching the door, his eyes meet mine for the first time this morning. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Throwing up a hand with a fake smile plastered to my face, I add, “I always am.”
