Page 19 of I Hear You

I’m almost positive he’s lying by the confused look on his face, but I take the high road and don’t call him out.

Taylor and Adam talk about work and school for a while. He doesn’t address me or Jesse again, he doesn’t even say bye to either of us when he leaves.

“So, you met Adam?” Taylor asks when he’s out of earshot.

“Yeah. When I bought my textbooks. He, uh, looked down my shirt and asked for my number.”

Jesse scoffs, “Sounds about right.”

Taylor purses her lips together but keeps quiet. I think my earlier assumptions of Jesse not liking Adam, weren’t just in my head. He definitely doesn’t care for the guy.

We opt out of a third go on the rides and decide to head home after finishing our food. The ride home is quiet and the air in the car is thick with tension. When we drop Jesse off at his apartment, he leans over and gives Taylor a kiss goodbye and tells her he loves her. He says it slowly, looking into her eyes the whole time, and I feel like I shouldn’t be watching. I get out of the car to take Jesse’s place in the front seat. I kind of wish I could stay in the back because the front seems a little dangerous right now.

When we pull away, I can’t help myself and ask Taylor if she’s alright.

“Oh, I’m fine. Sorry about all that. Jesse thinks Adam has a thing for me. It’s been a bit of an issue since I started working at the library. I tried explaining he’s a flirt with everyone, but he still doesn’t trust him.”

I have very little experience with real relationships and real relationship problems, so I don’t have any advice for her. The closest things I had to real relationships were using a guy for a place to crash and Ender. The latter of which I destroyed before it could even be anything. She doesn’t seem worried though and changes the subject, telling me about the thriller book she’s currently reading and how I absolutelymustread it when she’s finished.

Chapter eight

Henderson

Eastonisthekindof town that likes to make a big deal out of the most minor things. Today, we’re celebrating the opening of a new coffee shop right across the street from the diner. As if people won’t still just go to the diner for coffee because they’ll say the new place is too fancy. The whole town is still celebrating though, because–any excuse. We’re not talking about some small ribbon-cutting ceremony and balloons outside the door. No, that’s not enough. Main Street is blocked off to traffic, the middle school marching band is here–in their uniforms, puff ball hats and all–and the Mayor is standing behind a podium giving a speech.

I’m only irritated because it means I had to park six blocks away for work today. I almost would have been better off walking. My shift ended at the height of the festivities. People are filling the street, all holding mini to-go cups with the new shop's logo. Someone’s passing out pastries and kids are running around screaming and yelling.

This isn’t half as nuts though as the annual events they put on. The fall festival would make some people feel like they were in an alternate reality. It’s a week-long festival with pony rides, a chili cook-off, pie baking contests and every other small town cliché event they can shove into it. The entire month of December is packed with caroling, more than one tree lighting ceremony and mandatory decorations for the whole of Main Street. I can’t wait to hear what Mr. Grissom thinks of it all when the next major festivity rolls around. I can almost hear his grumbling and cursing under his breath now.

I’ve only made it a block toward my car when a dog gets loose from its owner, and comes racing in front of me, leash dragging behind it. The dog crashes into a girl and she falls into me. I catch her around the waist before she can hit the ground.

“Jesus. Fuck,” The girl exclaims as I help her upright.

I look up to say sarcasticallyyou’re welcome, but my voice catches in my throat when I realize the girl is Madison. My body reacts to holding her and my skin heats. Dammit, she is so gorgeous.

“Oh. You,” she says, eyes wide.

“Me,” I say, finding my voice.

“Sorry, that dog came out of nowhere.”

“No worries, this place is a little out of control.”

She brushes at her clothes and adjusts her top, switching the bag from the drugstore she’s holding to her other hand. It opens the space between us and I take a small step closer to her without even thinking.

“You’re making it a habit of rescuing me.”

I smile, not sure how to respond. If she only knew how easily I would be her knight in shining armor. Hell, I’d even don some silly costume if she asked. Madison doesn’t have a clue how completely wrapped around her finger I truly am.

“Well,” she says, continuing her walk down the sidewalk. “Thanks again. I better get going.”

“You’re welcome.” I say.

I start walking behind her, because of course we’re heading in the same direction–this isn’t awkward at all. After a few steps, she looks back and smiles at me.

“Are you following me?”

“What? No! I had to park on the street because of the–”

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