Page 121

“You said he stood six inches away from you.”

I paused and finished chewing a bite of cake. “We were just talking.”

“Were your mouths involved?”

“Generally, yes. That is how talking works.”

She pointed her fork at me. “You’re avoiding the question.”

“I’m aware.”

Patty waited.

I took another bite of cake, buying myself some time.

The almost-kiss was too delicate to place into words. Saying it aloud would turn it into an event, and events demanded interpretation. Patty deserved honesty, though. After all, she was going out of her way to help me when she could’ve revealed who I was to everyone instead. I owed her some transparency.

“We almost kissed,” I finally admitted.

Patty’s entire body went rigid. “Almost?”

“I pulled away.”

“Why?” Her voice was shrill now.

“Because I panicked.”

“About him?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

I chewed the inside of my cheek. “The lie. He was standing there telling me things about his father and why he tries so hard to take care of everyone. He trusted me. Then he wanted to kiss me, and all I could think was that he believed I was someone else.”

Patty’s excitement softened. “He doesn’t think you’re someone else.”

“He thinks I’m a wolf named Loany who belonged to his pack years ago.”

“No. He thinks you’re Sloane.”

“He thinks I’m the wrong Sloane.” I stabbed the cake. “I wanted to kiss him.”

“I know.”

“How could you know?”

“You looked at him during the reunion with enough longing to make me uncomfortable, and I tend to enjoy emotional chaos.”

“I don’t think that’s enough evidence to support your claim.”

“You turned pink every time he crossed the lawn.”

I waved her off. “I turn pink when the temperature changes.”

“The temperature didn’t change much during the movie. Your argument doesn’t make sense.”

I gave up.