Page 51 of Seeing You

Before she could take a single step, Jade hauled her in for a fierce hug. “You are the bravest person I’ve ever met. Be strong.”

When she pulled back, she murmured, “Okay.” But then she stared at the door for a solid minute. “Just like ripping off a bandage.”

Head held high, purse and phone in hand, she walked out to the counter and…froze.

His normally pristine hair was a little askew. His jaw was covered in an almost full beard, and he was dressed casually—looking better than a body has a right to. It was a very un-Marcus look, but it made him look even more appealing.

And more like the boy she had fallen for so damn long ago.

Shaking her head slightly to clear it, she stepped up to the counter. “Hey.”

His smile was hesitant, and she could tell he was nervous.

Yup. Very un-Marcus like.

“Hey,” he began. “How are you?”

“Fine…”

“Good. That’s…that’s good. Um…I don’t know if you heard, but my dad had a bit of an accident and I’m staying with him for a little while.”

Billie shrugged. “Okay.”

His eyes went a little wide. “That’s it? Just…okay? I thought you’d be surprised or impressed that I was doing this.”

Another shrug. “I already heard you were in town, so you’re not telling me anything I didn’t already know. As for being impressed?” And yet another shrug. “It’s what normal people do, Marcus. You’re not going to get a gold star from me.”

“I wasn’t asking for a gold star…”

“You used to mock me for wanting to help my family,” she reminded him. “So…I honestly don’t know what you expect me to say here.”

For a moment, he stared at her, frowning.

Now he looks like his usual self…

“Anyway,” he went on. “He’s not mobile, he’s more than a little needy, and he seems to have an endless appetite. He asked me to come in and get him some cake.”

“Okay.”

The huff of annoyance was typical Marcus, and she was kind of enjoying this exchange. Let’s see how he enjoyed being on the receiving end of…whatever this mood was she was in.

“Can we maybe talk someplace a little more private? Cora already rang me up, but I’d really like a chance to talk to you.”

“What for?” she asked wearily. “How many times are we going to keep doing this? We talk and then we don’t. We kiss and then we’re done. We have sex and then you leave.” Behind her, she heard Cora gasp and then Jade reprimanding her for it and had to keep from laughing.

“I’d like to apologize, Billie,” he said, sounding sincere, but she wasn’t buying it.

“You’ve done that too and then seem to instantly regret it or you find something else to get mad at me over. Seriously, Marcus, we need to just stop and let this go.”

“I don’t think I can.”

Now it was her eyes that went wide. “I…I don’t…”

“Just…five minutes. Please.”

Glancing over at Jade and Cora, they were both smiling and nodding.

Good grief.

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