Page 177 of Gloves Off

I feign nonchalance. “You know. Touristy things around town.”

“You must have seen the steam clock, then, in the main square.”

Hazel and Pippa know Silver Falls because their parents moved here for retirement a few years ago. They visit several times a year.

Darcy frowns. “Steam clock?”

“Yes,” I lie. “We saw it.” I have no idea what she’s talking about.

“Cool, right?” Hazel’s eyes sparkle.

“Supercool.” I give her a bright, confident smile. “I think I remember it from a movie.”

Pippa puts her hand over her mouth, and Hazel gives me a knowing look. “There’s no steam clock. I’m fucking with you.”

Pippa bursts out laughing.

“Busted,” Jordan drawls, smiling.

“He’s sent me flowers every day,” I blurt out. I’ve already told them about the shoes. I’m wearing them now. “They have meanings. His mom gave me a book.”

“Every day?” Darcy asks, leaning in.

“Every day.”

The book is tucked into my workbag, although I hardly need to check it anymore, I have so many of them memorized.

Hazel makes an impatientgo ongesture.

“The first day was sunflowers.” They all wait. “Adoration. Daisies.I love you truly,” I add. “White lilies.My love is pure.” Darcy’s jaw drops. Pippa and Hazel exchange a glance, and my pulse trips. “Red chrysanthemum.I love you.” Jordan’s eyebrows go up. “And today, red tulips.Declaration of love.”

A long pause of silence.

Jordan’s eyebrows lift. “The guy’s got it bad for you.”

No one says anything, and when I look up, they’re all smiling at me, even Jordan.

I look down at my hands, trying not to think about the end. “I’ve got it bad for him, too.”

CHAPTER 82

ALEXEI

“One last stop,”Miller says on our way to meet up with the girls.

He gestures at a tattoo shop on the main street of Silver Falls. The place is actually nice. Maybe Georgia and I will come back next year.

If we’re still together, I remind myself with unease. If I can make this thing real.

She hasn’t sleepwalked once this week, because I haven’t been playing hockey. I rub my sternum, swallowing hard. I don’t know what to do about that. Watching me get hurt causes her stress, but I can’t give it up.

I can’t give her up, either.

Miller smiles at a tattoo shop, and I remember last year on Boxing Day, when he and Hazel were still in the pretending phase of their relationship but Miller was head over fucking heels for her. He got very, very drunk, and then got a tattoo for her.

“I’m going to get another one,” Miller announces.

Owens rubs his jaw. “Yeah, what the hell. I’ll get one, too.”

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