“There are a lot of things you can say about me, but one thing I refuse to be is a liar.”
“Good, I hate liars.”
She’s far too happy about this assessment.
“You’re a smart woman, Aspen. I’m telling you to forget I exist. It’s in your best interest.”
I’ve ruined plenty in my lifetime, but I’m not sure I could live with myself if I dimmed her bright light.
“The wake of devastation I’ve left is a mile wide. And it goes well beyond anything you think you know about me.”
Her smile fades with the serious tone in my warning, but she doesn’t shy away. Instead, she sits taller, those endless hazel eyes narrowing on me.
It’s hard not to look away.
“Oh, yippee, just what every woman wants, a man telling her what’s best.”
Well, fuck, I’m a dick. But I’m notthatdick.
“Aspen—” I start.
“No. You don’t like talking so you can listen. Acting like you know better than me is reductive and pathetic. I’m a big girl. I’ll decide who I spend my energy on, thank you very much.”
Stubborn woman—built for battle and wrapped in the most deceiving package. She might be the Trojan horse my demons never saw coming.
“This brother you mentioned. He’s older, right?”
She rolls her eyes. “I have two. Both older and as much of a pain in the ass as you.”
“So, you’re the baby.”
A hint of the fury fades. “Yes, and . . . ?”
“Because you fight like it—scrappy as hell and impossible to ignore.”
Her lips part but there’s still that sparkle of gold in her eyes that tells me not only is she not offended, but that she likes this dynamic.
Her mouth shuts and curves. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“I like seeing you really raise some hell, instead of being whatever makes everyone else most comfortable.” NowI’mgoadingher.
My heart kicks in my chest, waking up at this push and pull between us. It gives me a rush I haven’t felt in . . . maybe ever.
Her eyes drop to my mouth. It’s then that I realize the corner of my lip has pulled up.
“Keep smiling like that and everyone else will know you’re not nearly as big of a grump as you pretend to be.”
I force it back into a straight line. “I’m not smiling.”
“It was halfway there,” she insists. And damn, it’s a struggle not to let my mouth curve at that.
“It’s the fresh air.”
Being outside isreallyfucking nice. Being here with Aspen is the cherry on the top.
“Okay, Pinocchio.”
“So, Aspen, youngest child with two brothers, flight nurse, secret hardass, what else should I know about my only friend?”
