Page 10 of Echoes of Us

“No, not really. I don’t like the taste or the effects,” I admitted, feeling self-conscious under his gaze.

“Do you smoke?” He made a gesture mimicking smoking weed.

“No,” I said, feeling a little bad about it. I could almost hear Ezra complaining about me being boring.

“That sounds about right. Would you ever try it?” he asked. His smile was different than usual, and my heart raced.

“I don’t think so,” I told him honestly.

His smile grew, and he moved to sit a little closer to me. “How about if it was with me? Would you try it then?” he asked, lowering his voice. His green eyes were fixed on mine, intense and mesmerizing.

My heart was pounding against my chest. I narrowed my eyes, trying to understand.

“Why would it make a difference if it was with you?” I asked.

He scrunched his nose, looking away. He let out a laugh. Noah pushed up from the ledge, and I felt like kicking myself. That was the wrong thing to say. I’d made him leave.

He reached into his pocket, taking out a joint and a lighter. He lit it, looking at me and walking closer. “Do you still think I’m intimidating?”

Wasn’t he leaving? He took a long drag and blew the smoke away from me.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

He smiled and walked closer, the dim light casting shadows across his sharp cheekbones.

“You’re fucking intimidating, Atticus. Has anybody ever told you that?”

“Not really. Scary, yes. But intimidating, no,” I said.

A soft chuckle escaped him. “Well, you are,” he said, taking another drag and stepping towards me.

“Why?” I asked, riveted by him placing the joint between his lips and then holding it loosely between his fingers, the way his lips curved around it so effortlessly.

“First off, you’re fucking huge,” he began.

I let out a laugh. “I’m not huge,” I argued, but his gaze was steady and appraising.

“You are. And you’re blunt. It’s like you don’t know how to soften your words,” he said.

Yeah, that one I had heard before. “Sorry.”

He took another step and stood right in front of me, closeenough for me to notice the faint scent of his cologne mixed with smoke—definitely sandalwood.

“And you stare a lot without saying anything. It’s a little unnerving. It’s like I’m not even sure if you find me really fucking annoying,” he paused.

I denied it with a shake. “I don’t.”

He smiled a little more, the corner of his mouth lifting in a way that made my heart race. He took one more step and stood in the open V of my legs. My chest tightened and a jolt passed through me at his proximity, the warmth of his body seeping into mine.

“Or if you like me.”

Fuck.

“I don’t mind you.” My voice sounded weird. I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure.

“Good,” he said with a nod. “I don’t mind you either.” He was standing very close, too close for this to be considered one hundred percent straight-guy behavior. He looked really great at this distance, his features sharp and mesmerizing.

He took another drag and narrowed his eyes. It made him look terribly attractive. “You’re doing it again.”

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