Page 63 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

Will immediately stands as we approach, offering me his spot.

‘Hey,’ he says softly. ‘I got you water, coffee, Gatorade, crackers, Tylenol.’

I glance between him and the table of offerings.

‘What? No jewelry or gold bars?’ Liv asks, attitude slung his way.

He chuckles. ‘If she wants gold bars and jewelry, I’ll get her gold bars and jewelry,’ he says, his eyes on me.

‘Thank you?’ I slowly sit in the chair he’s offering me, trying not to jostle anything internally. How in the hell did he put all this together so fast? We’re in a bar. I get the coffee and water, but Gatorade, crackers and Tylenol? Did he ask for donations?

Wait.

There’s a drugstore across the street. He bought all this stuff for me in the last five minutes. Shit. He’s being sweet.

‘We’re up, woman,’ Bryce says to Bianca, waggling his eyebrows as he directs her to the karaoke stage.

I lean forward, resting my head in my hands. Suddenly, I feel Will’s hand on my back, gently gliding over my shirt in a circular motion. Now that the shock of him being here has faded, every nerve in my body lights up like an old power plant coming back to life after being dead for a very long time. Buzzing, sparking and electricity surge through every part of me.

After a few minutes, he leans forward, kissing the back of my shoulder; the smell of his cologne fills my head. Woodsy but sweet. He’s either still wearing the Le Labo cologne he knows I like, or he put it on just for this. I breathe him in for a moment, and I swear he knows; that’s why he’s lingering so closely.

‘You doin’ alright?’ he asks softly into my ear. ‘I can take you home whenever you’re ready.’

I turn my head on my hands, looking over at him.Why?Why must he be so fucking handsome? What is this look he’s giving me? Some mix of regret, worry and adoration. Like I’m someone he’s sincerely missed. He flashes me a panty-melting smile, and without me telling it to, my face matches his. It just responds to him however it fucking wants.

‘How dare you walk in here, looking all super-hot Clark Kent while I look like booze-flu Barbie.’

He bursts out laughing.

‘I kind of want to punch you in your pretty stupid face.’

‘There she is!’ Cole says with a laugh. ‘Want us to bring him outside? Bryce and I can hold him down, and you can kick him in the balls?’

‘Hey,’ Will protests, obviously not thrilled with this idea, as he reaches down to cup his jewels with his free hand. My eyes follow. He notices and grins. ‘Do I get a say in this?’ His voice is soft and innocently intoxicating, like when we’re alone.

‘No,’ Olivia snaps, interrupting our little moment. Little moments that continue to happen and make me want to know exactly why he’s here.

‘You get no say, and if ya fight it, maybe all three of us ladies kick you in the gonads. We will decide on your punishment based on your crime-s.’ She adds in the plural as an afterthought.

‘How about we let Berkley decide my punishment?’ Will suggests, his gaze still on me.

‘You sure you want to knock at that door?’ I ask. ‘I’m the one at this table that should hate you the most.’

‘Should?’ He picks up on it immediately.

I glare. ‘How about this: you want me to hear your stupid explanation?’

‘Yes.’

‘Sing,’ I say, grabbing the bottle of Gatorade, twisting the cap with all my might, but it doesn’t budge. He takes it from me, opening it easily before handing it back.

‘Thank you.’ I lift the drink. ‘You want to have a private conversation with me? The girl whose heart you destroyed. You have to sing.’ I point to the stage.

‘Seriously?’ he asks. ‘Me singing badly will make you feel better enough to talk?’

‘You’re a professional party boy, Adler. Don’t pretend you’ve never drunkenly done karaoke. The whole world has watched you do it. Now get your pretty ass up there and sing me something.’

He stares at me, challenging me with his big brown eyes with gold flecks that sparkle anytime he looks at me. I remember them so well. I could stare into them all day and never feel lost.

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