Page 36 of Between the Blue
Her eyes flick to the hockey sticks in my hand.
She has a way of saying things, doesn’t she?
“Yeah,” I nod.
“I hate when that happens.” She gives me a sideways grin. Then she starts walking.
I follow behind her. We’re both going to the same place.
She checks out with Mikey. Then I do.
He’s trying to small talk with me. Asking me how the season’s going. I always hate small talk, but especially right now.
I shove the credit card into his hand, cutting him off. “Sorry, Mikey. Kinda in a rush.”
He raises a brow. Glances at the door Jules just walked out of.
He’s onto me.
It’s okay.
As soon as the card’s back in my hand, I speed walk out the door.
I jog down the steps. Look out into the parking lot. She’s nowhere to be found.
Shit.
But then I smell something.
Menthol.
“Are you following me, Ben?”
I turn around.
There she is, leaned against the staircase. Mikey’s Sports bag in one hand, cigarette in the other.
“Yes,” I say.
It’s the truth.
“Why?”
“I…”
Why, exactly?I have to ask myself how to put it into words.
Jules takes a drag from her cigarette, raising her brows at me.
“I want to take you out,” I tell her.
She blows out a puff of smoke, slow and steady.
“Okay,” she says.
I blink at her. “Okay?”
She drops the cigarette. Snuffs it out with her shoe. “Let’s go.”
