Page 105 of The Chance

He looks at me pointedly.

I level him with one right back until he’s cackling behind my hand.

“Okay,” he finally mumbles and taps the back of his hand to my abs. “Okay.”

I release him and wipe the left-over moisture on my palm down his arm. He squeals and darts away, running right into someone that—

Face tattoos. Piercings. Bent nose.

Oh fuck.

Highlighter orange hair.

Fuckfuckfuck.

“Hey handsome,” I hear Lemon coo, and I spin away. Rip my hat off my head.

Shiiiiiiiit.

I’m stuffing my hat into my pocket when I look down at the band’s logo on my chest and curse again.

I wore it to blend in, even paired it with the holey jeans Lemon made me buy, but now …

It just feels like a billboard.

A giant neon sign.

With fucking glitter.

Chapter Sixty-Four

Mac

A pull like nothingI’ve ever felt before has my sight sliding away from the conversation I’m having with Makkin to the motion on the other side of the window.

My stomach drops completely through my asshole at the scene on the other side, unaware of their audience as hands are wrapped around arms and a smile is thrown up at the taller of the two guys.

All I see is his back, but I know.

It’s him.

Right there.

Tilting his head away from the store.

The two exchange words and it’s clear that the short guy hanging off Jordan is perturbed about leaving the area but happy to listen to whatever justification Jordan’s giving him.

It’s like watching a version of what could have been my life on a goddamn TV screen as they turn, and shorty tucks his hand in the crook of Jordan’s arm.

He glances this way, and I’d swear I could see a widening of his eyes through the glass, though I know you can’t see inside from the out. He has no clue I’m here.

And it should stay that way.

But my feet are moving toward the exit before my brain can catch up. The heart in my throat leading the way.

I’m in the throng of bodies just as fast, as if I’m moving on autopilot. Following the pull of the metaphorical string I tried so desperately to cut.

He’s right fucking there.