Page 22 of Between the Blue
She lifts her chin, her lips pulling up at one side. “That doesn’t impress me, you know.”
“I figured much wouldn’t.”
It’s the truth. She just seems above everything. Not in a conceited way though. But because it’s true.
Her tongue pushes into her cheek. She glances down at the rollerblades on my feet. Then back up to me. “Neither does your size.”
Jesus.
I swallow. Happen to notice for the first time that she’s pretty tall for a girl. Maybe only half a foot shorter than me without skates.
“Anything about me thatdoesimpress you?” I ask her.
She looks at me for a few seconds. “I’m not sure yet, Ben.”
I think I changed my mind.
I don’t want everyone to call me that. Because I like the idea of it only being reserved for her.
“Then I guess I need to work on that.”
“What for?” she asks.
“Because I like a challenge.”
I lean closer to her. Figure she’ll lean back.
She doesn’t.
“And if this is what you look like unimpressed, I think I’d do just about anything to see you impressed.”
She tilts her head. Drops her gaze to my mouth. Just for a half-second. But I notice. Makes me press my tongue against my lower lip.
“Anything, you say?” she hums.
“You deserve it,” I tell her.
Her eyes squint a little. A look I can’t place flashes across her face. “Nobody deserves anything, Ben,” she says. “Some just get lucky and others get fucked. Sometimes, I suppose it’s both.”
She glances away. I wait for her to look back at me.
“You’re lucky, Jules.”
If she gets a special nickname for me, it’s only fair I get one for her.
She pulls her head back. Lets out a little laugh. “Easy for you to say. Luckiest guy in this town. Prettiest boy in this room.”
“Coming from the prettiest girl in every room.”
She purses her lips. Pushes her hair behind her ear. “I guess you have a point.”
I chuckle. Shake my head.
“Now, if you don’t mind,” she says, “I have to get to work.”
She steps up into the DJ booth. I step onto the rink floor.
She looks busy, so I take a lap. Skate half the lap backwards so I can watch her the whole time whileDreamsby Fleetwood Mac plays over the speakers.
