Page 28 of Sharkbait
I turn and see Calliope and Mabel peeking through the curtains, but I’m exhausted at this point and don’t have the energy to care. Mabel, ever the good girl, immediately darts out of sight. Calliope takes the opportunity of being caught to give us an enthusiastic thumbs-up, then she disappears from the window as well.
James continues, “I should have taken you at your word the night we met. I apologize.”
My mind flashes back to that night. The way he kissed me. The way he took care of me.
“Which, um, which word are you taking me at?”
He rubs a hand over his head.
I remember how it felt when I ran my own hands over it.
Like I wanted to do it again and again.
He takes a step closer to me. “When you said if we were to ever to run into each other again that I should pretend we never met.”
“Right. That.”
“This is not an excuse, but, well, you said thatbeforewe— And I guess when everything between us was so—I thought that—”
He’s so close now his breath caresses my skin.
“You thought what?”
“When it was so amazing between us, I assumed you’d change your mind about not wanting to see me again. Because…” He brushes a lock of hair out of my face. “Damn, we were good together.”
“We were, weren’t we?” My voice is the softest it’s been all night.
“But you didn’t change your mind, did you?”
He’s close enough that I could kiss him.
But I can’t.
I won’t.
“No,” I say. “I didn’t.”
He nods. “Then I have to respect that. No. Iwillrespect that.”
“Good. That’s um—” I swallow. “Thank you.”
“You bet.” He pauses. “Though it sounds like you’re going to throw one hell of a strip show birthday party for your brother at my bar. So maybe we can work ontoleratingeach other? At least for one more night?”
I laugh. “Maybe.”
He does a hand symbol, says, “I’ll take that ‘maybe,’” then starts to walk away.
Where did I see that symbol recently?
“You into heavy metal or something?”
He stops and turns back to face me.
“Not particularly. Why?
I nod to his hand. “That thing you just did. Isn’t that a sign for heavy metal?”
“Oh no, you’re thinking of devil horns. Like this.” He lifts his index and pinky finger and mimes like he’s head banging.
