Page 24 of The Problem with Falling
I’d been around people for too long.
“Peter,” he replied as he slid his hands into his sweatpants pockets. “So where’s your boyfriend, Willow?”
Give me a fucking break. What a stupid fucking line.
“I don’t know. Haven’t met him yet.” She then turned to me and tilted her head. “You two look so different.”
“Thank you,” Peter and I said in unison.
Willow laughed.
That sound made me a little less pissed off.
“Like I said, we were on our way out. Food’s getting cold,” I cut in.
Peter ignored me, which wasn’t uncommon for him. He ignored pretty much everyone unless he thought he had the chance of getting laid. That was why it was so bothersome how his eyes were glued to Willow.
“How long are you in town, Willow?” he asked her, raking his hand through his brown hair.
“For the summer.”
Peter flicked his thumb over his nose. “You have nothing you’re waiting to return to?”
“No. I kind of live in the concept that you’re always exactly where you’re supposed to be. I’m in no rush with life,” she replied. “I allow it to move me as it wishes.”
Peter smirked. It was ugly. “Speaking of moving…do you like dancing?”
“I love it,” she said.
“Well, if life moves you, tonight there’s a dance party down at the Barnhouse celebrating the start of summer. I’d love to take you as my plus-one. I would invite my cousin here, but I know he’s not much of a dancer or partier for that.” He patted me on the back. I considered slugging him. “But if you’re interested, I can pick you up around nine tonight.”
Willow bit her bottom lip and glanced my way. “You don’t dance?”
I gave her a blank stare, feeling a knot forming in my gut.
She knew my answer.
Willow frowned, but it only lasted for a split second before she turned back toward Peter. “A party sounds fun. I’m staying with Theo if you want to scoop me up from his place.”
“Scoop you up, I will do.” He tipped an invisible hat toward Willow before pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. “I’ll see you later on.” He took a puff of the cigarette, then blew a cloud of smoke in my face. What a dick. “I’ll see ya later, cuz.”
With that, he scurried away like the roach he was.
Willow looked at me and narrowed her eyes. “Cousins, huh?”
“We aren’t close.”
“Yes.” She began to walk over to my truck. “I know.”
“How do you know?”
“You might not know this about me, but I’m a professional at reading a person’s body language.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“Sure is. And do you know what your body language read during that whole exchange?”
“What’s that?” I asked as I opened the passenger door for her to climb inside.
