Page 19 of Always You

“Wanna get out of here?” I wait for her to lay her hand on mine.

Something glitters in her eyes as the corner of her mouth rises.

“Go where?”

“Wherever you want.” I shrug, meaning every word of it.

I’d drive her to the end of the world right now if she asked me right now and I realize how weird that is. Normally, I’d get a girl in my truck for an hour before I drop them off at home, but with Charlotte it’s different.

I don’t want to drop her off.

“Sure.” She nods, and my heart stops for just a split second when I feel the heat of her hand as she places it in mine.

Yeah, I’m keeping her.

At least for tonight.

6

Sitting in the passenger seat of his truck is not as awkward as I expected it to be.

He glances at me as he pulls into the drive-through of the Burger Shack in town.

“You wanna share a burger?”

“No.” I pull a face, looking at him as if he’s lost his mind.

“What do you mean, no?” He searches my face while he slightly turns his body, a frown creased on his forehead. “You don’t want to eat?”

“I don’t want tosharea burger. I want my own damn burger.”

Color me weird, but I feel like when you indulge in the temptation of a greasy burger, you gotta do it right. Not half ass that shit and pretend half a burger is enough for a late-night snack. It’s not. If I’m having a burger at ten p.m., I’m having the whole thing.

“You do?” His brows move up to his hairline as his perfectly pink lips curl into an amused grin.

“Am I your friend, Hunter?” My tone is serious, with just a hint of mocking.

I turn to press my back against the door so I can look him in the eye, a smile trying to sneak through my lips.

“Yeah.”

“Then why would you deny me half a burger? Friends don’t do that to friends,” I sass.

A pent-out breath flies from his lungs with a chuckle before he lifts his snapback, only to put it back on his head. “You’re weird.”

“Why the fuck is that so weird?” Biting my lip, I hold in my laughter.

“I don’t know, most girls want half a burger. Calories and shit.” He shrugs, beaming at me as if I’m the most remarkable creature he’s ever seen. A look that gets me all tingly in body parts that definitely shouldn’t be tingly right now.

“Yeah, well, that’s the whole reason I’m in your car, right?” I cock my head a little with defiance as I keep my eyes locked with him. He stares at me, a hint of longing in his eyes that’s growing by the second, a hint I inwardly slap away.

Friends. It doesn’t mean anything.We are friends.

“What I will do, Hunter, is give you half of mine if you give me half of yours, preferably one with cheese.”

I give him a smile that stretches my face as he just keeps blinking at me, looking awe-struck.

Finally, he grabs his chest. “I think you just took a piece of my heart.”

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