Page 5 of The Space Between
I don’t fuckingengage.
“Hey, Gruene,” Reece calls from the dock. “Got a new local asking about gear. Says she just moved in next door to you.” I don’t miss the question in his eyes… I just choose not to acknowledge it.
I stiffen. Then, I see her.
She’s walking toward the shop in a tank top, short shorts, and flip-flops. Her dark hair is down, waving around her shoulders. Her eyes are wide as she takes it all in. And damn it, sheglows.
Blakelyn.
Catching my eye, she lifts her hand in a small wave.
I don’t wave back.
Instead, I turn to the shelf behind the counter and grab a brochure. I walk it over to her like it’s a damn peace treaty.
“You don’t want to float today,” I say, handing it to her.
She frowns, looking around at everyone loading tubes into the river and boarding the buses that take them to other drop spots. “Why not?”
“River’s low. Snaggy. Heat index is brutal. Wait a week.”
She cocks her head as she regards me. “Are you always this friendly?” Her lips purse.
“Nope. Just honest.” I almost snarl.
Her lips twitch. “You say that like it’s a warning.”
“It is.”
She holds my stare. Doesn’t flinch as she replies, “You’re not what I expected.”
“Neither are you.” I flatly retort.
She’s not. But she also is. She’s trouble.
The air between us snaps tight again. Same as last night.
She steps closer. Not close enough to touch, just enough to make mefeelit.
“You live next door,” she says. “We’re neighbors, Gruene. It’s probably a good idea if we figure out how to coexist.”
I don’t answer. Becausecoexistis a nice word. A safe word. A word for people who don’t look at each other like they’re drowning and dying and daring someone to save them.
Nope. She can live next door. But I’m keeping my distance.
I watch her walk away.
She doesn’t look back. But the air still hums in her wake. I know I’m lying to myself.
And I’m already in trouble.
CHAPTER 2
Blakelyn
There’sa hole in the screen door that lets mosquitoes in and a crack in the porch step that’ll widen with just enough weight or pressure, but I think that’s part of the charm. Everything here is a little undone… a little weathered.
Including me.
