Page 60 of Shattered

Sienna looks up at me again, her eyes sparkling with a smile as she grabs the fabric, and I notice the slightest blush on her cheeks. “Yeah? I just got it.”

“I’m glad to see you still like sunflowers.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever not like them.”

Me, either.

We come to a stop in front of her car, but rather than simply saying goodbye and continuing on to mine, I linger.

Clasping her hands together, she turns so she’s facing me, her bright blue eyes looking at me through thick lashes. “And I’m glad I got to see you again.”

I rock back on my heels and shrug. “I guess it was okay seeing you.”

Sienna huffs out a laugh and pushes my chest, but I reflectively reach up, grabbing her hand and holding it there. I didn’t mean anything by it, but as the seconds slow with her hand in mine, pressed against my chest, I realize I may have inadvertently turned an innocent gesture into something more, especially if she can feel the sudden thumping of my heart.

We’re attempting to be friends, but obviously, we’re still navigating where that line is.

Her smile slowly fades as she watches me, and when her tongue slips out to wet her lips, I realize I’m not looking at her like she’s my friend right now. And that alone tells me I should step away.

Only I don’t.

A breeze tosses her blonde hair around, and I lift my free hand to tuck it back behind her ear. Then I slide my hand forward, gently touching the tiny diamond in her nose. “I like this as well.”

“Thank you,” she breathes out.

It would be so easy to kiss her right now and see how those pillowy lips feel against mine. Time stands still, and a bubble of thick air forms around us, the space between us crackling with energy.

Friends.

And only newly reacquainted at that, though it doesn’t seem to matter.

Sienna flattens her palm against my chest. “Neilix—”

The slam of a front door nearby cuts her off, and in the next second, we hear Jason’s voice calling out to me. We quickly pull apart, Sienna scrambling to open her car door while I distance myself from her car and turn around.

He comes into view a moment later. “Neil! You forgot your phone.”

I start back toward him, shaking my head. That could have been disastrous. Not only if I had left my phone there, but also if he had come outside quietly and caught us standing so close like that.

I’m not even sure what that was between us, but fuck, I really need to chill and take a step back from all of this.

...

Jason: I was thinking of going to the driving range after work today. You wanna come?

Neilix: Are you as bad at it as you were when we were younger?

Jason: Probably worse.

Neilix: Okay. What time, and where?

CHAPTER TWENTY

Neilix

Harley and I pack up our tools for the day, and start gathering the garbage and bits and pieces from the last room we worked in. We’re just getting ready to take things down to our vehicles when Shane steps into the room. “Yo, Neilix. I’ve been trying to get a hold of Jason for a while now, but he’s not answering my texts or calls. Have you seen him lately?”

I contemplate telling him the truth for all of two seconds before I simply reply, “Nope.”

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