Page 80 of Tell Me It’s Right

I open my mouth, close it. The wider his smirk grows, the hotter my face burns, and I lower my gaze to the black fabric of his T-shirt.

It’s been easy to compartmentalize the other night as long as I stayed focused on work. Well, maybe not easy. My stomach started doing enough somersaults to join the circus the moment I saw him this morning, but I’ve been doing a damn good job of ignoring it.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from him today after my word vomit.

There’s no point in telling Leo, right?

I don’t want to make a big deal out of this.

I wanted to kick myself as soon as I said it, but then he’d agreed, so I obviously couldn’t take it back. Because the fact of the matter is, no amount of keeping this quiet will make thisnota big deal for me.

It’s confusing, without a doubt.

Complicated, for sure.

But a small deal it is not.

The way my heart aches as he looks into my eyes makes it very clear this situation has all the potential in the world to break me into a million little pieces.

Because the one thing I said thatistrue is: I might be leaving soon.

“Don’t flirt with me,” I mumble.

His smirk turns into a grin. One of his breathtaking ones that shows all of his teeth and creases the corners of his eyes. “Go out with me after work.”

I mock gasp as I lose the fight against keeping my smile back. “Stop hitting on me.”

He grabs both arms of the chair and leans until our faces are inches apart and the silver chain around his neck dangles between us. My cheeks burn under the intensity of his gaze, and I can feel my heart in my throat. “Just to the skatepark. I have dutifully done everything you’ve asked for that godforsaken app. Now you’re going to try something for me.”

I balk. “You are not putting me on one of those death traps.”

He nods seriously. “I am.”

“I will die. You get that, don’t you? Actually die.”

“Gracie. I won’t let you fall.”

“When I’m careening to my death at a hundred miles an hour, I don’t think you’d be much help?—”

“I won’t. Let. You. Fall,” he repeats, his voice low.

All possible responses simply evaporate from my mind. The way Liam so calmly holds my gaze, like staring directly into my soul is the most normal thing to do, has me holding my breath. There’s something about the way he looks at me that feels different than anyone else. It feels like so much more. The amusement that was in his expression a moment ago is gone, replaced by a rare softness I don’t think he lets many people see.

The bells above the door startle me out of whatever trance I’d been in.

“Hey, man,” calls Leo’s voice.

Thatdefinitelysnaps me out of it.

Liam steps back while I sit up straight and turn to the computer.

“Hey, Gracie,” adds Leo as he props his sunglasses on top of his head and steps inside, a Milano’s coffee cup in hand.

His voice sounds…normal. Not suspicious. Like he didn’t just walk in on something weird. I guess he wouldn’t be able to see the desperate desire to pounce on his best friend like a wild animal from the outside.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“You could at least pretend to be happy to see me. We’re family, you know.”

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