Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
I keep that opinion to myself, though. “You heading out?”
“Yeah.” She wrinkles her nose. “I’m so lame but it’s a late night for me. I’ve said all my other goodbyes but saved the best for last.”
Okay, that feels good to hear. “I’m glad you came. Do you need an Uber to take you home?”
She shakes her head, hefting her purse over her shoulder. “No. I stopped at two beers.”
I had noticed she’d been drinking water for a while and that assures me she’s okay to drive. I know Danica is responsible and wouldn’t risk it.
“Then let me walk you to your car,” I say, turning to set my beer on a nearby table.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”
“I kind of do,” I say, offering her my arm. “Mitch would come back and straight-up poltergeist haunt me if I let you walk out of a bar by yourself at night.”
Danica laughs, as I expected, and links her arm through mine. Somehow I knew that a joke about Mitch wouldn’t be offensive but, on the contrary, understood. It says that I know how Mitch felt about his wife and I’m going to honor that.
We head out of the bar and she turns us west. “I’m about two blocks down that way in a paid lot.”
As we stroll along the sidewalk, I brace against the chill in the air. I never thought to grab my coat but it’s dipped down into the thirties. Is it my imagination or has Danica stepped in closer to me?
Is she cold and seeking warmth or is she worried that I’m cold?
“… starts at ten a.m.”
“I’m sorry… what?” I ask, having missed something.
Danica laughs. “Are you drunk?”
“Pleasantly buzzed,” I correct her but I’m sure I’ll be drunk before the night is through. I will most definitely be taking an Uber home.
“I said Travis’s practice starts at ten. I can text you the address.”
I consider offering to pick her up but that seems too forward for some reason. Despite the fact I’ve pretty much pushed myself on her twice now to help out without giving her an opportunity to decline, picking her up at her house to take her somewhere feels too personal.
“Sounds great,” I reply. “I’ll meet you there.”
“Here’s the lot,” Danica says and we walk past an attendant who’s asleep in his booth.
At her car, she fishes in her purse for keys and I’m surprised that when she has them in hand, she moves in for a hug. I’m startled and it takes me a moment to reciprocate. Her arms go around my neck, the keys in her hand jangling as she murmurs, “Happy birthday, Camden.”
A simple endearment to a friend and yet it sounds like more.
Or maybe that’s the beer.
Regardless, neither one of us withdraws from the embrace and I turn my head slightly so I can breathe in her shampoo.
Fuck… that smells good.
Too good.
She feels a little too nice in my arms and I have no right to be thinking those things.
I loosen my hold on her even though I’m reluctant to pull away. At first, Danica doesn’t take the opportunity to extricate herself, so we hold still a few seconds more.
Then slowly, we move apart. But it’s so fucking slow that my cheek grazes her temple and I feel the heat of her breath on my neck.
I dip my head for no reason at all and it puts us cheek to cheek as we continue to separate. Christ, only an inch separates the corners of our mouths and if I turned my head just that amount, my lips would touch hers.
We both freeze and I can feel the rise and fall of her chest even under her heavy coat, her breath wafting over me in the same rhythm.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I send up a secret prayer for strength and somehow manage to pull myself free of the hug.
Danica gives a tiny cough as she steps back, her gaze dropping to the ground. I shove my hands in my back pockets and look over to the attendant in the booth, merely to divert my attention somewhere else.
A slight giggle has my attention snapping back to Danica. I raise an eyebrow and she shakes her head as she puts her hand over her mouth, perhaps to shut down another laugh. Her eyes finally meet mine and they’re not full of recrimination, even though we came very close to kissing.
Instead, they’re alight with humor and I can’t help but grin at her.
Just like that, we’re back on even footing.
She unlocks her door. “Thanks again for the invite. I had a great time.”
“Me too. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Danica slides into her seat and I don’t move until she exits the lot and heads off down the street. Because it’s cold as fuck, I jog back to the bar.