Page 24 of Fractured

Using the few extra minutes for studying, I pulled out the sheet music I’d taken to carrying around in my pocket and mentally played the piece, imagining how it should sound and how it should be played. Sometimes, that was just as useful as putting the bow to the strings.

Minutes crawled by, and I did a damn fine job of pushing Drake out of my head. It wasn’t until almost an hour had passed when I realized I was very possibly being stood up.

It shouldn’t matter. I had refused to give Ambrose my number because he was a complete stranger. At least with Atticus, we shared a common person in Harper. And Kenzo was a college buddy of Harper’skind ofboyfriend, who I’d procrastinated talking to her about. She was a big girl and could make her own decisions, but I didn’t want her to be blind. Okay, maybe a small part of me wanted my best friend back.

Even Saint worked at my neighborhood pharmacy. All of them seemed safe in a way Ambrose hadn’t. So what if he found something better to do with his time? My feelings shouldn’t be so easily hurt.

But they were.

Glancing around the park, I looked for any sign of the tall, Greek god of a man to come traipsing out of the trees with his backpack slung over his shoulders.

The longer I sat there, the more my chest tightened, and I fucking hated it when mist covered my eyes. Women in their mid-twenties were past this middle school bullshit, and I’d vowed to myself I’d perpetually be alone. So what, he was a good conversationalist? He’d been able to distract me and I’d liked it, but there were plenty of other distractions I could focus on.

His version had just been so enjoyable.

“Whatever. It’s not even a thing,” I dashed at the tears leaking from my eyes, angry at my own reaction. There was just too much on me, and I was overdue for a good cry. My friend Ambrose was just the one who broke the dam.

I folded up my towel, ready to head to Randolf’s and throw myself into something that really did matter. Not lunch dates in parks with men I didn’t know. My whole life, I’d been practical, meticulous in the way I planned everything out. Now wasn’t any different, and if anything, I needed those routines now more than ever.

Anger warred with embarrassment as I kept my gaze to the ground on my way out of the park. I’d just gotten the key in the lock as my name was shouted.

“Lilith! Wait!”

Closing my eyes, I tried to stop the fresh round of tears as a wave of stark relief washed over me. He hadn’t stood me up.

I dabbed my eyes, then turned around. He was jogging out of the park, holding a hand against the oncoming traffic as he darted across the street.

“Hey,” he panted as he braced his hands behind his head. “I’m glad I caught you. I can’t believe I almost missed you completely.”

“It’s fine,” I said, but was it? “What happened?”

“Remember how I said I’m an author? I finally figured out a plot hole that had stumped me for weeks. All morning, I’ve been typing furiously, and I lost track of time. I don’t even have any food to offer because as soon as I realized the time, I was already late.”

He had apology written all over him, and I didn’t have the steam to be upset. It was an honest mistake. Too bad I didn’t have any more spare time.

Laying the towel on the hood of the car, I used it as a delay tactic because I had no idea why I was evening bothering with Ambrose. “It’s really no problem, but I have to get back to town.” I started to say to Randolf’s, but I’d never told him where I worked or what I did.

“Damn, I’m sorry. I was really looking forward to today.” He glanced off in the distance. “How about meet me tomorrow, and I’ll set every alarm in my house so I don’t miss you?” He raised his eyebrows and widened his eyes imploringly.

“I think it’s probably best if we just call it good.” I hated myself for saying the words, especially as his face fell.

“Don’t do that. Who am I going to have deep and random conversations with?”

A smile fought its way to the surface, even though I didn’t want to smile right now. “I’m sure you’ll find someone.”

“Ah, but I don’t want just anyone, I want someone specific.” He grinned sheepishly and slid one arm on top of my car until he was only about six inches away. “Give me your address, and I’ll come by tonight. I swear, no weapons of any kind. I’ll only bring a case of beer or whatever you like to drink and pick up takeout on the way.”

Tipping my head back, I let my gaze wander from his stormy blue eyes to his full lips, then back again.

It was a bad idea. There were a hundred different ways our friendship could end and all of them bad. But once again, I was finding my impulse control to be very weak lately. I wanted to know what he would ask me next, what we’d talk about as the night grew late and the moon hung heavy in the sky.

I’d never been a romantic, but maybe I wanted to be. Or maybe I was just lonely.

Either way, I agreed against everything my gut told me.

“Okay.” I gave him my address while he typed it in his phone, and my number too, in case he got lost. “Don’t make me regret this.”

He shook his head and furrowed his brows as if he would never do that.

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