Page 55 of Shattered

“Good.”

My nose scrunches. “But you work with him?”

“Not directly. And only when he’s at the same site.” He scrubs a hand over his face. “It’s still too much.”

“I’m concerned he’s going to tell Jason he saw me with you,” I admit with a sigh.

Neilix holds my gaze for a moment. “I take it that means he doesn’t know you came to see me the other day?”

“No.”

“And I take it he’s still the same old Jason in that respect?”

He doesn’t need to elaborate. Even before what happened between the two of them, he knew how Jason behaved when it came to me and guys.

“Yes.”

Neilix nods, puffing out his cheeks before releasing the air.

“But he doesn’t get to dictate my life or have a say in who I hang out with. I just worry that it might set him off, especially if he just came to see you. I don’t know how much he told you, but he’s been working at staying clean this past year.”

With creased brows, his eyes drop to the table. “He did tell me a little.”

“I’m just not sure how he would react to this.” I lift my hand, gesturing between us.

“So, we should make it easy and leave it at this, then? Say goodbye and carry on as we were before?”

“What? No.” I lean forward, placing my hand on the table. “That’s not . . . I don’t want that. I just don’t think it’s a good idea for Jason to find out we’re in contact again and have met for dinner. At least, not right now.” The look on his face tells me he’s not too sure about what I’m suggesting. “Do you want to leave it at this?”

I drag my hand back across the table and lower it to my lap, picking at the skin around my nails as I wait for his response.

“No,” he finally answers, making my heart flutter. “I don’t.”

Nodding, I try to contain my smile as we get to our feet and exit the restaurant.

“Where are you parked?” he asks once we’re outside.

“Not far.” I hitch my thumb over my shoulder. “Just down the street.”

“I’ll walk you.” He starts strolling in the direction of my car, not giving me the option to protest—not that I would have—and I catch up to walk alongside him.

No words are spoken until we reach my car a minute later, and I turn to smile up at him. “Thank you . . . for coming to dinner, for paying, and then walking me to my car.”

“You’re welcome.”

A beat passes where we both just stare at each other, and I swear the temperature goes up a degree or two. His gaze roams over my face, and my eyes trace over the five o’clock shadow along his jaw, his soft-looking full lips, and the beautiful color of his eyes that look a little less dull than when I saw him at his door.

The sound of a car honking breaks whatever moment we were having, and I’m able to take in a full breath. I’m not sure what that was, but I feel this magnetic pull between us, and I think we’d be fools to say there isn’t anything there.

Friends. That’s what we are, I remind myself.

I give a little wave before stepping back and opening my door. “Well, I’ll see you later.”

He nods, slipping his hands into his pockets, which only draws my attention to his biceps. With an internal shake of my head, I sit behind the wheel and close my door. Then, right after starting my car, Neilix knocks on my window.

Brows drawn together, I wind my window down, and he leans in. “Your tire is looking a little flat. You should take care of that right away.”

“Oh, um. Will it be fine to get me to Plainfield?”

---