Page 124 of Endless

“No passing out, please,” I said, smiling.

She laughed, and I heard the rustle of her smoothing down her shirt. More than likely, she was swiveling her ring around her finger, too. I missed her quirks. Didn’t realize how much until this very second.

“Um…how are you?” Her voice was breathy. She was nervous.

“Fine. You?” I hated this distance between us. I wanted to sweep her into my arms and rock that body—

“Good. Is this your dog?” Her voice was lower, probably kneeling before Killer.

“Yeah, Killer. This is LizBelle—er—Lizzie. Lizzie, meet Killer.”

She laughed. “Killer, huh? I think maybe your owner didn’t get a good look at you before he named you.” Her voice was high-pitched and muffled. Probably giving Killer hugs. She was so loving. “Such a good dog. Oh. I’m sorry. I—we—probably aren’t supposed to be petting service dogs, right?”

“Don’t worry, I don’t have a do not pet sign on him like some of those other dicks. Pet away. He has to deal with me day in and day out, so I’m sure he’s loving it.”

She laughed. “Damon.”

I shrugged. “So…”

“So.” Her voice was high again. “It’s, um, good to see you.”

“You too.” I reached out, and she guided my hand to her face.

She was smiling, but it wasn’t full-faced. I brushed my thumb across the corner of her mouth. A mouth I’d kissed plenty of times. Wanted to again, right now.

“This is so weird,” she whispered, and her voice hitched as she pressed my hand to her face more firmly.

Touching her felt like a kick to the stomach as well as feeling amazing. Smooth, soft skin. And her scent. Even above the coffee smell in here, I caught a hint of watermelon. She’d probably just eaten a Blow Pop.

“Lizz—”

“Hey there.” A new, deep voice entered the scene from the right side of me. “What’s going on?”

I pulled my hand away from Lizzie and stood straight, facing the direction of the voice.

“Oh. This is my…friend. Um. Damon Meyers,” Lizzie said. “And his dog, Killer.”

“Sweet dog. Kick-ass name.”

I swallowed a retort. This kid sounded like a surfer or preppy or some douchebag wannabe. And what thehellwas he doing here with my Lizzie?

Scott had said she was hanging with a college guy now.

I offered my fist for a bump. “Hey man.”

“Um. This is Trent,” Lizzie said.

No classification like friend, boyfriend, so that was good.

“You in some classes together?” he asked as he bumped my knuckles.

“We dated,” I said, before I even thought it out.Shit.

“Ahhh, meeting the ex,” the guy said, then cleared his throat. “That sucks.”

Suckedassmore like it. He was withmygirl.

“D-man, you’re up,” Frank said, thankfully breaking the total and complete awkwardness I’d caused. I was a total asshole for saying that. Lizzie must be mortified; she wasn’t saying anything.

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