Page 60 of Here's to Tomorrow

I don’t pay much attention to anything she says as she passes the plates out because I’m too busy watching her. She moves like she’s…air—which sounds weird as shit, but I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s fluid and flawless and smooth. She breezes when she walks, her steps light and quick, yet steady and calculated.

Then, something happens. Something so stupid and small and unimportant that there’s no reason my chest should be constricting, my breaths seizing, my entire world stopping.

She brushes against my arm, and I feel her everywhere.

Our eyes connect, and I’m hit with the same thing I have been hit with over and over when it comes to Rae: familiarity.

I don’t understand it either. I’ve never met her before, because trust me, I’d remember. With the way my body and mind react when I’m around her, there’s no way in hell I’d ever be able to forget.

And I damn sure wouldn’t want to, not with the way she’s looking at me right now as if I’m the only thing that matters.

It should feel wrong, because it’swaytoo soon for feelings between us. We’ve only recently met, don’t really know one another, so why are we so engrossed? Why can’t we look away? Why do we have this magnetism between? And why do I want to say to hell with all the rules and put my heart out there right this minute?

Because of the way she looks at me. Because of the way she makes my heart race. Because of…her.

She’s all I can see, and I’m perfectly okay with that.

WHACK!

“Fuck me, Tuck! That—”

“Nah, I’ll pass.”

“—hurt, you asshole.” I rub arm where he just slammed his stupid meaty fist into me and glare. I use all my energy to focus in on not flipping the asshole off, because even though he completely deserves it, Iamsomewhat of a gentleman.

I turn back to Rae just in time to see her scurry off like she’s sprinting in the Olympics or some shit.

Now Idoflip Tucker off.

“I see you,” he says, grinning.

“I see you, too.”

Feeling his eyes on me, I glance over at Perry. I’m assuming he witnessed the…exchange between Rae and me because he’s staring at me, and I can’t tell if it’s a friendly stare or aback away while you still canstare.

Then, the shadows that were laced in his eyes disappear and I swear I watch a small amount of weight lift off his shoulders because he’s suddenly sitting straighter. He nods twice then turns his attention to his food, ending whatever the fuck just happened.

I peek over at Tucker because I have no clue what that was all about. He shrugs and takes a sip of his soda, leaving me to try to decipher that all on my own.

But, I’m confused. I have no idea if I just received some sort of warning for retribution later for the staring contest with Rae, or if it was permission.

I’ll hope for the latter and prepare for the former.

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