I huff out a breath. “Of course you do.”
He tips his chin. “What’s that now?”
“Nothing,” I breathe.
Of course he works at Donn’s. Why wouldn’t beautiful Jake work at the beautiful-man bar named after their beautifulpackages?
I clear my throat. “I didn’t see you inside.”
“I was on barback today.”
“Cleanup crew?”
“More like support staff.” I nod in response. “It’s easier sometimes.” He doesn’t add to that, and for once, I don’t pry.
My eyes travel from his dark hazel greens to the smirk on his lips. They dip down his broad chest and take note of his relaxed posture. And then they land on the space between his parted legs. My head tilts the slightest bit as my mind begins to wander.
If Lia’s theory is right, thenheprobably…
I blink rapidly as I shun the thought away, my eyes darting back up quickly as embarrassment flushes my cheeks.
He huffs out a chuckle and rises, gaze settled on his boots. I pretend it has nothing to do with the way he caught me looking at him.
He takes a step toward me and places both hands in his pockets. I spin, giving him my back while taking a moment to collect myself.
“So, what brings Allie to the alley?” he asks between what I assume are steps.
I grin, amused by the new nickname. It’s soft and light, and charming coming from him. “Came for a smoke. You?”
“Same.” He stops beside me, and my body starts to buzz.
My brows crease, and I turn my head to him. “You smoke?” I could never picture a guy like Jake with a cigarette pinched between his lips. Not with his perfect skin and shiny white teeth and all.
“Never.” His smirk deepens. “You?”
My lips twist into a smile. “Never,” I repeat.
He gives me that endearing grin that turns downward at the corners and shakes his head, his eyes dropping to his feet again.
I fix my gaze on the stars and take a breath.
“I’ve always envied how smokers get to walk off whenever they like and no one bats an eye. They can take a social break, and it's perfectly acceptable. At work. School. In the middle of a party. Any time they see fit, they get to step away from the madness of the world, and it's totally fine.”
“Is that what you’re doing?” he asks thoughtfully. “Stepping away from the madness of the world?”
My eyes meet his. “Aren’t you?”
He gives me a friendly smile before we both look away and up to the stars. There’s not many of them, the blinding night lights of the city drowning out the shine they might have beyond the clouds.
A silence falls between us, and it’s comfortable and calm. Freeing and unfiltered. It sends my mind wandering to depths I rarely travel—to the dark parts of my life I pretend don’t still exist. To the meaning of all this mess and the beauty that’s supposed to lie behind it. I’m not sure what makes me ask it, but my mouth is moving before my mind can catch up.
“Do you think there’s a God?” My voice is soft and full of wonder, strewn with hope and gentleness.
He doesn’t answer right away. He just stares up at the sky as if he can peel back the clouds with his eyes to expose the stars.
“Maybe,” he breathes. “I don’t know. When I was a kid, I did.”
“Why not now?”
