Page 107 of One Good Crash
"Good," he said. "So do me the favor."
Talk about circular reasoning.
I protested, "But that doesn't make any sense. And besides, don't you think I'd be an awful person if I just forgot it all, like none of it mattered?"
"No," he said. "I think you'd be doing me a favor, just like I asked." His gaze met mine. "So say yes, and forget it."
I wanted to say yes. Really, I did. But it would be a lie.
Growing up, my mom had lied a lot – pretty little lies that made life easier in the short term and harder in the end. But me? I wasn't like that. I didn'twantto be like that, especially with Jax, who was growing more important to me with every passing moment.
So I did the only thing Icoulddo. I looked straight into his eyes and said exactly what I was thinking. "Icouldpromise, but it wouldn't be true. Ican'tforget, and…" My voice grew quiet. "…I guess I can't help how I feel."
As I said it, I realized how accurate this was on multiple levels. After all, it wasn't just gratitude filling my heart. It was something else, something he'd never return in a million years.
But then,hisvoice grew quieter, too. "I know the feeling."
I wasn't quite sure what he meant, but there was something there, something in his tone, or maybe in his look – whatever it was, it made my heart give that familiar little flutter.
I asked, "What do you mean?"
He leaned a fraction closer. "Promise me, and I'll tell youthat, too."
Oh. My. God.Now, I was dying to know what he'd say. "Really?"
His gaze dipped to my lips. "Really."
Feeling nearly breathless now, I joked, "Will you take a kidney instead?"
Slowly, he shook his head.
I gave him a hopeful smile. "Twokidneys?"
"Sorry." He smiled back. "I like your kidneys where they are."
"But you haven't even seen them."
"Remind me sometime. I'll take a look."
As we bantered back and forth, it wasn't lost on me that somehow, we were no longer discussing that strange favor. What wewerediscussing, I wasn't quite sure.
But I liked it.
I liked the look in his eyes and the fact that he was right here, almost within reach. Still, we could've been a whole lot closer, and I fought an impulsive urge to lean toward him and see what might happen.
Who knows? Maybe nothing would happen. Maybe I'd just look like an idiot. After all, he wasn't my boyfriend or even my date.
In reality, I wasn't quite surewhathe was.
A friend? Definitely.
Something more? Possibly.
From the look in his eyes, it sure seemed that way. Desperate for clues, I said, "At least tell me this. Is thesecondfavor any easier?"
His smile disappeared. "No."
And just like that, the spell was broken.
