cook?”
“Why so skeptical? If girls can build aftermarket exhaust upgrades, guys can cook, right?”
“No. I mean, yeah sure, I’m just surprised.” I sigh, reaching for the fried rice until what he said hits me, about pans and cooking— for me . That would mean he’s coming back. As much as I want him to, I’d already decided to cut him loose after today. “Thanks for helping me shop for cars today, Grey, I’m grateful, but—”
“You’re not going to start telling me how we can’t be friends again, are you?”
“Yes.” I almost cringe at the abruptness of my answer. Taking a deep breath, I start again. “Aw, listen, it’s not that I don’t want to. You don’t understand. I’m not … reliable. I’m the type of person who is better off … my life is too …” How can I explain without revealing my past failures? The desire to know him better keeps swallowing my promises to myself. I’m only acting all needy and stupid because I’m lonesome. Where’s that darn dog I meant to get?
“If you’re about to tell me your life is too ‘complicated’, I’m going to punch you in the arm.”
My mouth pops open, and the corner of his lifts halfway.
“Not really. Lighten up, Birdie.”
I rub the tips of my shoes together.
The toe of his sneaker comes over and bumps in the mix. “Okay, girl. Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to learn to trust me because you and I are going to be friends.”
“We are?” I doubt his assertion is true.
“Yes. I’ve decided. I’m hooked on the mystery that is you.” He pauses as though waiting for my reaction. “I’ve been trying to get inside your head all day, and it’s like Fort Knox up there. Let me ask you three questions, and I won’t bug you anymore today. But I warn you, I can tell when people lie. Deal?”
And when the mystery is over, then what? You’ll get bored and bail? “I don’t make deals.”
“You’re making this one.” Grey takes the box of fried rice from my hand and sets it on the floor. He scoots closer to where I’m propped against the couch until our thighs touch.
I stare at his navy, button-down oxford as he takes a lock of my hair and moves it off my forehead. I can feel his breath on my face, spicy from dinner. I’m so nervous my hands tremble, so I clasp them to stop the shaking.
“Ready?” he asks.
“No.” I can sense his eyes on me, but mine don’t leave his shirt buttons.
“Do you have anyone, Bird, any family?”
I don’t manage more than a whisper. “No.”
“Are you involved in something illegal, something that pays your bills, maybe?”
“No.”
“Two no answers.” He shakes his dark head. “The conversation’s getting too negative, we need a yes. Say yes, Birdie.”
My gaze flies up to meet his. What is he up to now? Does he pity me? That must be it. He wasn’t kidding about the puppy on the side of the road. Maybe he does want to save me but not to keep. Just another foster until he can find the right someone to take me off his hands. Well, I’d rather be alone than someone’s charity case.
“No,” I say again. “Thanks for your … uh, interest, but, no.” There, that sounded good and final.
“Wrong answer.” His voice is smooth, hypnotic. The tenor is kind, patient and strong. “Say yes, Birdie.”
My eyes sting. I’m still looking at him, silently pleading, but it’s no use. I hear myself answer him. “Yes.” Damn him . It’s crazy how he talks me into things I don’t want to do.
The biggest grin I’ve seen on him appears. “The screwdriver?”
“Wha—”
He hops up. “Oh yeah. You told me … behind the box? Let’s get your stuff put together. Want to?” He asks like he’s giving me a choice.
I frown. “Grey?”
“Yeah?” He digs into one of the boxes with the end of my Phillips head..
“What did I just say yes to?”
“Nothing big. Just Thanksgiving dinner with me and my family.”
• • •
Grey’s visit proved how much I
“Why so skeptical? If girls can build aftermarket exhaust upgrades, guys can cook, right?”
“No. I mean, yeah sure, I’m just surprised.” I sigh, reaching for the fried rice until what he said hits me, about pans and cooking— for me . That would mean he’s coming back. As much as I want him to, I’d already decided to cut him loose after today. “Thanks for helping me shop for cars today, Grey, I’m grateful, but—”
“You’re not going to start telling me how we can’t be friends again, are you?”
“Yes.” I almost cringe at the abruptness of my answer. Taking a deep breath, I start again. “Aw, listen, it’s not that I don’t want to. You don’t understand. I’m not … reliable. I’m the type of person who is better off … my life is too …” How can I explain without revealing my past failures? The desire to know him better keeps swallowing my promises to myself. I’m only acting all needy and stupid because I’m lonesome. Where’s that darn dog I meant to get?
“If you’re about to tell me your life is too ‘complicated’, I’m going to punch you in the arm.”
My mouth pops open, and the corner of his lifts halfway.
“Not really. Lighten up, Birdie.”
I rub the tips of my shoes together.
The toe of his sneaker comes over and bumps in the mix. “Okay, girl. Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to learn to trust me because you and I are going to be friends.”
“We are?” I doubt his assertion is true.
“Yes. I’ve decided. I’m hooked on the mystery that is you.” He pauses as though waiting for my reaction. “I’ve been trying to get inside your head all day, and it’s like Fort Knox up there. Let me ask you three questions, and I won’t bug you anymore today. But I warn you, I can tell when people lie. Deal?”
And when the mystery is over, then what? You’ll get bored and bail? “I don’t make deals.”
“You’re making this one.” Grey takes the box of fried rice from my hand and sets it on the floor. He scoots closer to where I’m propped against the couch until our thighs touch.
I stare at his navy, button-down oxford as he takes a lock of my hair and moves it off my forehead. I can feel his breath on my face, spicy from dinner. I’m so nervous my hands tremble, so I clasp them to stop the shaking.
“Ready?” he asks.
“No.” I can sense his eyes on me, but mine don’t leave his shirt buttons.
“Do you have anyone, Bird, any family?”
I don’t manage more than a whisper. “No.”
“Are you involved in something illegal, something that pays your bills, maybe?”
“No.”
“Two no answers.” He shakes his dark head. “The conversation’s getting too negative, we need a yes. Say yes, Birdie.”
My gaze flies up to meet his. What is he up to now? Does he pity me? That must be it. He wasn’t kidding about the puppy on the side of the road. Maybe he does want to save me but not to keep. Just another foster until he can find the right someone to take me off his hands. Well, I’d rather be alone than someone’s charity case.
“No,” I say again. “Thanks for your … uh, interest, but, no.” There, that sounded good and final.
“Wrong answer.” His voice is smooth, hypnotic. The tenor is kind, patient and strong. “Say yes, Birdie.”
My eyes sting. I’m still looking at him, silently pleading, but it’s no use. I hear myself answer him. “Yes.” Damn him . It’s crazy how he talks me into things I don’t want to do.
The biggest grin I’ve seen on him appears. “The screwdriver?”
“Wha—”
He hops up. “Oh yeah. You told me … behind the box? Let’s get your stuff put together. Want to?” He asks like he’s giving me a choice.
I frown. “Grey?”
“Yeah?” He digs into one of the boxes with the end of my Phillips head..
“What did I just say yes to?”
“Nothing big. Just Thanksgiving dinner with me and my family.”
• • •
Grey’s visit proved how much I
Similar Books
