Page 45 of Untouchable

I love you, Tabs. You’re the best friend a girl could have.

Tabs

And don’t you forget it. I swear to god if you try to replace me with three hot guys on bikes I’ll dye your hair in your sleep.

Me

You’re irreplaceable, Tabitha. You know that.

Tabs

I love you too, Kitten. What are you guys up to today?

Me

Zoo day.

Tabs

My FOMO is cured. Enjoy the smell of shit while you get sunburned.

Me

I’ll wear sunscreen.

Ihaven’t been able to think straight since Ace got in my face last night, telling me I washisand to stop acting like I’m not. Because what the actual hell was that about? My heart was in my throat and every hormone in my body was begging for him. Begging for him to touch me, or kiss me. Hell, I would have settled for him tying my hands around him again out of spite. The wild look in his eyes as he inched closer to my face, telling me to come tohimwhen I need someone for…well, practically everything.

He’s my warm body, and I’m his Little Reaper—apparently. I can’t help but wonder just how much of that warm body he’s offering to me.

“Kat!” Bodine snatches me by the arm just before I run into a pole. Ace glances over his shoulder, then turns back around like nothing happened. “What the hell has you so spaced out today?”

“Nothing.” I can’t even stop myself from looking at Ace again, but he’s oblivious to the fact thathe’swhat has me so spaced today. He simply walks around like nothing happened, meanwhile, I can’t think about anything other than him. How he makes my stomach flip every time he looks at me, the way he held me before my eyes ever opened this morning, the way helooks so hot right now I want to throw myself into the penguin pool just to chill the hell out.

“Where to next? Reptiles or primates?” Bodine asks, making me laugh.

“Depends, who wants to visit their family more? You or Mikey?”

“Damn, Kat. The claws are sharp today.” Mikey holds my hand up and begins examining my nails.

“I’m kidding! I don’t care which one we see next, but I need a lemonade first. It’s hot as hell outside today.” I lift my hair, pulling the bandana from the belt loop in my denim shorts and tying it around my head.

“Lemonade sounds delightful, we’ll go grab some. Y’all find somewhere for us to sit.” Bodine and Mikey continue up the path where the concession carts are, turning to point at Ace and me.

“Preferably in the fucking shade,” Mikey yells before they both turn away from us again. I laugh and look around for a table, seeing a family leaving one that sits right beneath a tree.

I tap Ace’s arm to get his attention. “Here’s one.” We walk over and sit down, my muscles already aching from how far we’ve walked today. I’d be fine with walking, but the hills in this damn zoo are about to kill me.

“You doing okay?” Ace doesn’t face me when he speaks, he just continues watching people as they walk by, but I can still feel the tension between us—even if he’s choosing to ignore it.

“Yep. I’m good. You?” He looks at me now, pulling his sunglasses from his face and tucking them into his shirt.

“I’m not the one who was having trouble sleeping last night.”

“Ah. Right.” I shake my head, and he folds his hands on the table in front of him.

“Want to tell me what kept you up so late?” I take a deep breath, holding true to what I told Tabitha I would do. Though I didn’t think it would happen at the zoo, that’s for damn sure.

“Remember when I said Viper’s funeral brought back memories I’d rather run from than sit with? ” I face him and his eyes are on mine as he nods. Then I avert my gaze as I continue, finding it easier to focus when I’m not staring directly at him. “Well, the memories I normally run from are ones that bring back feelings of sadness. I run because I can focus on things thataren’tsad; a new location, my work, other people. This time I’m realizing I’m not assadas I amscared.” I look at him again and his brow is furrowed. “Fear holds on tighter than sadness and it’s a lot harder to shake.”

---