R

't under

eathing her in, he'd die. And yet, he pulled away. He had

ed, mildly humiliated girl

ng comfort or clarity.

hine and mascara. "His name's Josh. He's cute, charming,

tired of overthinking someone wh

e sai

-

too polished, like he belonged in a toothpaste commercial. But he was nice. Gentle. The kind

ys. Her mind, her body, felt light again. Josh made h

lled. Carved

i

re, arms folded, face unreadable. Watching h

dn't move

-

ted to take a walk. He said

no

party. Trees loomed tall, bare branches clawing at the moon. Josh

ack. "Hey-no

d her cheek.

aid

er at

h. S

t the chance

Liam w

g. Just presence. H

ike a man who just realized he

mean-" Jos

low and terrifyingly calm. "Th

He had that look. But he didn't. Liam t

ue. He vanished

-

iam said, finally looking at h

apped. "You kiss me like you need m

espond. Not

you to stay and you left. Why? Because I wanted more than a kiss? Becau

oods held its

pped forward. His ha

kisse

ot desperately.

. A warni

ice was barely above a whis

-

haunting. It hadn't answered any of her q

The air between them was tense, but not cold. More like the kind o

lack and sleek and somehow colder than the nig

slid

-

e, but the silence insid

ng. Like he was holding something dangerous just

at him through the

clen

s a

ke they were the only

eep with him," she sa

kno

even loo

g at the dark blur of trees. "But you

cing at her, "because I knew he

gave a l

she asked, trying to sound

p you

not an

n't gi

-

ed. They fel

hood. The glow from the dashboard lit his face, shadowing

tonight. Or ma

it. "That night. In my room. You kissed me like I m

ghtened on the

ene

arching. "Say it. Whatever it is. Sa

dn't say

front of her house, parke

e said quietly. "But I'm tryi

were

His eyes

ay anything, ju

-

flinch. D

handle, but before she could

gh. Jus

he said, almost like he hate

second time that n

t. Still

omething shaking. Something

was already looking aw

with her heart thudding l

n't loo

felt him

alw