“Wait, are you telling me your whole life has been just one big survival game?” I ask her, frowning.
When Blair doesn’t answer, I check her expression to make sure I didn’t say anything to upset her. Then I do a double take. Blair’s not casually looking around as I’d thought before. Her eyes aren’t bright with interest as they slide over Main Street. They’re sharp as they skim along rooftops, lock onto the alleys between stores on both sides of the street, and when she does look into the large display windows it’s to check her surroundings in the reflection.
“Blair?”
“What? Oh, um…” She presses her lips together as she considers my question. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“What about in high school? Did you play sports? Or, like, go to summer camp? I can’t see you as a theater kid but?—”
Blair shoots me a furtive glance. “Santi, are we playing twenty-one questions or something?”
“Sorry, are they bothering you? That wasn’t my intention. I just wanted to?—”
“No,” Blair interrupts with a light sigh. “Well, yeah, a little. But only because I’m not used to talking about my life. That and the more you ask me about the normal stuff that kids did growing up, it only reminds me how different I am from you, and probably everyone we’re walking by. It’s uncomfortable.”
Without thinking, I reach out and take her hand. I half expect her to pull away but Blair doesn’t. She simply glances down to where we’re joined, then up to my face. I give her my best smile.
“We’re not different. Nottoomuch anyway,” I promise. “If you don’t want to talk anymore about your past you don’t have to.”
Blair considers this for a moment, then shoots me an anxious look from the corner of her eye.
“Thanks, Santi. Iwilltell you about it, just… not now.” She promises, her voice softening as she speaks. “I like that when I’m with you, I can have fun. I didn’t grow up where there was a lot of banter or jokes, or really even any type of conversation that wasn’t serious. With you, I get all that and more. And it’s not just that, I don’t have to pretend with you. I can be myself which issonice. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so comfortable. You’re like…” She searches for a word as a smile pulls at her lips. “A key, I guess. You’ve unlocked the fun side of me and I want to enjoy it. I want to enjoyyou.”
Well, damn. I can feel cupid’s stupid little arrow striking me right in the heart. If I wasn’t already in the process of falling head over heels for the woman beside me, I would’ve started right now.
I squeeze her hand and grin. “You’re going to have to write all that down so I can swoon over every word you just said later, okay?”
Blair laughs in response. “Sure, Santi. I’ll do that for you.”
“Perfect! Look, there’s the truck. Let’s throw your stuff in there,” I offer, dragging her down a street that branches off the main drag. “Then, let’s go to Janet’s Janky Jukebox.”
Chapter 19
Santiago
“Santi!” Blair whines. The sound is twisted with a giggle as I drag her away from the crowded space in front of the stage where the local band is jamming out. “Where are we going now?”
“You’ll see!” I call, knowing that we’ll have to hurry. I’m shit with keeping track of time normally but with Blair, I’ve lost all sense of it.
Now we’re running late.
“Please tell me this is where you dress up in your baseball uniform and show off that tight ass,” she says.
My answering laughter is loud.
“Another time, I promise,” I assure her.
Quickly, we hurry back to the truck. I open the passenger door for her and wait until she’s put on her seatbelt before closing it and running around to the driver’s side.
“Okay, what has you all amped up right now?” Blair asks, as she clicks on her seatbelt and we pull away from the curb. “Did something happen back at the house or?—”
“No. Well—” I shrug. “Not that I’m aware of it. I have something I want you to see but, um, I had to schedule it a little bit in advance, and if we don’t get there soon the surprise will be ruined.”
Blair reaches forward and plays with the knob on the radio station. “Alright. Can I get a clue as to what the surprise is?”
“I’ll give you a hint,” I offer before flashing her a grin. It slides away however as I consider my next words. “Rhett usually does this with me.”
Blair tenses. Her attention swings from the radio to me, her eyes sharpening. The swift shift from Playful Blair to this cold and calculating version is intense. Scary almost. As she straightens in her seat, her body doesn’t stiffen so much as grow eerily still. The warmth in the car slips away, and a chill replaces it.
