Page 41 of Shadow Break

Sydney knew he couldn’t kiss her. She was sure they both wanted it, and it physically hurt to pull away, but it would cost too much. It would mean a mess for both of them. She couldn’t have him. She had to accept that.

After Aaron stepped back, Sydney took a breath, desperate to change the subject, and when a memory flitted through her mind, she grabbed hold of it and laughed.

He lifted an eyebrow. “I didn’t know I was funny.”

“No. I know. I just remembered something from when we were kids.”

“Yeah?”

“You remember that time I was trying to change the faceplate on my bike? I must have been only eight or nine.”

“No, I don’t remember.”

“At first, I was determined to do it myself, but that was not going to happen. I couldn’t get the screws undone. You were shooting hoops in your driveway, so I walked my bike as close as I could without being obvious and made sure you could see how badly I was struggling.”

“That’s very manipulative of you.” Half his mouth lifted in a smile.

“I know, but I couldn’t ask my dad.”

“Did I help you?”

“You moped your way over, took the screwdriver out of my hand, and gave it a half-hearted turn.”

“So I did help.”

“It didn’t come loose. I was sorely disappointed in you because I always admired your muscles when I was a girl.”

“My fifteen-year-old muscles? Really?”

“You looked strong to me.”

“Don’t tell me you had a crush on me.”

“Of course I did. I couldn’t help it. You didn’t know?”

“I don’t think I paid much attention. So what happened then?”

“You slapped the screwdriver back in my hand and told me I was out of luck. Told me to give up. I said I wouldneverstop trying. Not in a million years. Not ever.”

“Ah yes, I do recall your tendency to hyperbolize.”

“You said I was wasting my time.”

“So I didn’t help you.”

“No, but thinking back to it, you probably had a fight with your dad or something. You were grumpy before I got to you.”

“That sounds like me. Did you ever get the plate changed?”

She smiled. “You really don’t remember.”

“Not even a little.”

“As you were walking back across the road, I yelled out to you that just because you thought it was too hard, didn’t mean I couldn’t do it.”

“Did you really?”

“Yeah. And you want to know what you did?”

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