Chapter Ten #2
“Sweet, sweet coffee. Oh, how I missed you.” Her eyes meet mine through the wafts of steam. “You’re the best, Tris. Thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I say, my neck heating. “What’s the plan after we eat?”
“Ask me when I’m done. I’m focusing on one thing at a time.”
I glance down, noticing she’s on her fourth slice of pizza. Where on earth does it go? She has no meat on her body. Even the neckline of my shirt hangs off one of her creamy shoulders. Like a magnet, my eyes zero in on that one spot, unable to look away. It’s the perfect spot for me to kiss.
Or her nose. Mmm. Her lips, even in the pizza lip gloss.
“Tristen?” She waves a hand in front of my face. “Where did you go?”
“Why are you wearing my shirt?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. I threw this in my bag before I knew you were coming. It was within easy reach and clean.” She tilts her head. “But didn’t you give it to me? So isn’t it my shirt now?”
“I let you borrow it like you borrowed the tools from Lewis.”
She lets out a huff before taking another big gulp of coffee. “I hope you aren’t asking me to take off my shirt again. Once was weird enough. It better not become a habit.”
I cough, nearly choking on my bite of pizza. That escalated quickly.
“Please keep your shirt on. Wow. That’s a phrase I didn’t expect to be saying today.”
“Your face is beet red,” she exclaims, laughing behind her hand. “I never realized you blushed so much.”
“Only when you say inappropriate things.”
“Inappropriate? Funny coming from the man who kissed me on a public bus.” Pressing her palms on the table, she leans closer, her eyes a shiny metallic. “Don’t think I haven’t forgotten your little joke.”
My back stiffens. “Joke? What joke?”
“Please, like I’m an idiot who would fall for that.”
I place a hand over hers, stopping her from leaving the table. I repeat my question slowly, “What joke?”
“The one where you make fun of me for not figuring out you were Austin. That I said all those things about him . . . about you . . . ugh.”
“In hindsight, I shouldn’t have prodded you about Austin. I guess I was surprised you didn’t even consider me as a choice.” I squeeze her small hand. “But that kiss was not a joke—far from it.”
“I don’t understand.” Too many emotions cross over her features. “Then why did you do it?”
“Because I wanted to.” And still want to.
“I can’t tell if you’re joking or not. This is a terrible one if it is.”
My thumb brushes over her knuckles. “I’d kiss you again if you’d let me.”
Now it’s her turn to blush, highlighting her sprinkle of freckles.
“We’re always fighting. You can’t stand me.”
“I never said that. You drive me crazy, in more ways than one.”
She swallows nervously. “You and me?”
“Why not?”
“That’s not a very good reason.” She snatches her hand away before I can catch her.
Why not? Why not?! Of all the reasons I could have said, that’s the one that flies out of my mouth?
“Reese . . .”
“This is a lot to unpack. I—I’m going for a walk.” Standing, she looks everywhere but at me. “Thanks again for the pizza.”
Then she sprints off like a marathon runner, leaving me confused and alone at the picnic table.
Way to go, Tristen.
Cursing under my breath, I let my head thunk onto the stack of pizza boxes. I don’t think I could have screwed that up any worse.
When night falls, Reese still hasn’t returned.
For the millionth time, my eyes stray to the cat clock hung above the door, the tail swinging with each second that passes. I’ve tried to work while she’s been gone, but it’s pointless. I pace the tiny stretch of vinyl and mull over my colossal mistake again and again.
What I should have said was that I like her.
Straight to the point and no confusion behind the meaning.
Then follow it up with that I like spending time with her and that she’s funny and beautiful.
Mention how I used to catch myself staring at her from across the bar, hoping she’d glance my way, even when she was there with Burns.
Of course, I blow the one shot I have. Now she’s out there, in a strange place, without me watching over her.
With a growl, I check the clock again. Knowing Reese, she’s probably decided to return to Rocosa on foot just to avoid my company. She’s probably stubborn enough to do it too.
Done with waiting, I open and close random cabinets searching for a flashlight when the door swings open. She stomps up the steps with a shopping bag in hand. I grip the counter, unprepared for the intense relief that crashes into me at seeing her unharmed.
“Sorry I was gone so long.” The door clicks closed behind her. “They have this huge gift shop by the main office with a wide variety of items in it. It’s like three stores in one. I bought a few things to use for decor for the camper.”
I don’t even think as I move forward and wrap my arms around her, cradling her so close that her chin rests on my shoulder.
After a moment, her spine relaxes and she melts into me, her hands still dangling by her sides.
She fits into my arms like a missing puzzle piece, one that snaps into place and makes the whole image seem clearer.
Reese is special to me. She always has been and always will be.
“I was worried about you,” I whisper into her neck and squeeze her more snugly, thankful to have her in my arms. Any moment, I know she’s going to push me away and tell me what a weirdo I am.
But I don’t let go. I don’t pull back. Instead I wait for Reese to decide what she wants and hope my actions can express what my words butchered.
Reese says nothing as her shopping bag slips through her fingers and crashes noisily to the floor. With tentative hands, she wraps her arms around my back.
I suck in a surprised breath, the scent a heady combination of the two of us.
“Don’t run from me anymore,” I say.
My fingers trail down her spine absentmindedly, and her shiver vibrates through me. Her nails scrape across my back as she gathers the fabric of my shirt into her fists, holding on tight.
Reese, Reese, Reese . . . My brain fills with only thoughts of her. Memorizing the curve of her body against mine. Savoring the smell of her skin. Treasuring this moment between us. The desperate need to kiss her again consumes me.
Tracing the bumps of her spine, I build up my courage.
“I like you.” To seal my confession, I press the lightest of kisses on the column of her neck. “A lot.”
Her contented sigh sounds in my ear, and I kiss the same spot, reveling in the rapid thumps of her pulse under my lips. Knowing I’ve caused those unsteady beats is nearly my undoing.
She leaps away from me, her chest heaving. “You kissed me. Again.”
“I did,” I say, my voice pure gravel. “I wouldn’t mind another.”
The expression she makes is the same one she made when Austin’s chapters would start—but this time, it’s for me. I move in to kiss her, but she throws up a hand, blocking me.
“Too fast,” she pants. “I need . . . control.”
And then I realize her hand on my chest is trembling. She tucks them behind her but is unable to hide the frightened glint in her eye.
I brush the hair back from her face. “Are you okay? Is it a craving?”
She nods and steps away from me. “Say something. Distract me.”
“Uh, okay.” I glance around, trying to think of something on the spot. “I think the cat motif is growing on me.”
She shakes her head slightly. “Wh-what?”
“Like some of the pictures are pretty cute. My bedding is of kittens at the beach. They’re wearing little sunglasses.”
She smiles, a small one, but I still count it as a victory.
“Kittens at the beach,” she murmurs. “I’ve never been to the beach.”
“I could take you if you want. I don’t think it’s too far from LA.”
“LA? As in Los Angeles? That seems pretty specific.” She blinks, thinking.
“There’s also cats in the—”
“No, no. Why LA? Where did that come from?” The blood flow returns to her pale cheeks.
“No reason.” I lean against the counter, crossing my arms over my chest.
“You’re lying.” The tremors in her hands start to fade as her silver eyes begin to frost over. “You have a tell.”
“Fine. I have some work events there.”
“For the bar? Oh, the audiobook stuff.” She jolts in place. “You said you were stuck in Rocosa before.”
“I, uh—”
“You want to leave. For where? LA? To be a hotshot celebrity?” Her question has a little more bite than I care for.
“I haven’t actually decided anything yet.”
“But it is a possibility. And you kissed me . . . knowing that you might not stay in Rocosa? Were you not going to tell me? Let me get attached first? What was your master plan here, Tristen?”
I spread my arms out and laugh like a madman. “I have no plan. Can’t you tell? All I know is that I like you. And I think you like me too, but you’re just too stubborn to admit it.”
“I have nothing to admit.” She lifts her chin up a notch.
“Now who is lying?”
She pushes past me, knocking into my shoulder as she storms into the bedroom.
I wait for her to scream something else, but the bedroom light clicks off.
After a few minutes, my frustration morphs into determination.
Maybe Reese has a point. How can I make any decisions if I don’t know what I want?
Crawling into my bunk, I pull out my phone and start reading over Vivian’s excerpt.