Drowning. It’s as if I’m being pulled under by heavy currents, dragged through the bottom of a rocky ocean, and hitting everything in my path.
If Haley wants us to feign normalcy for one night, I’ll do it. I’ll do it because as angry as I was with her, once I set my eyes upon her, I wasn’t even mad anymore. I do still want to know why she dropped me from her life, but I want to rediscover that feeling she gives me more. Besides, we’re friends first, and I promised her I’d always be there. I learned long ago not to take back promises anymore, and I have zero intentions of doing so.
For her, I’ll pretend.
Hell, I’ll do anything for her.
“Where are we going?” Her voice startles me, but I resist the urge to jump, not wanting her to know just how far away I was.
“Out,” I say, meeting her stare, loving how she’s planted her hand on her hip. She’s sassy tonight. I can deal with sassy. I can’t deal with sad and quiet for another night.
Maybe pretending is a good thing.
“That much is obvious.” She adjusts her stance, her arms now crossed over her chest. I’m half expecting her to start tapping her foot like an impatient parent.
“We’re going…” I wrack my brain for a real answer. I have no idea what we’re going to do. First, I want to grab food because I truly am starving, and I’m certain she hasn’t had much to eat today either. Then I want to do something…different. Maybe something she’s never done before. Maybe somethingI’venever done before.
Then it hits me. I knowexactlywhat we’re going to do.
“We’re getting food. The rest is a surprise.”
It’s miniscule, but her eyes brighten at my words. I swear, everything inside me lights right the fuck up. My body heats with warmth, my toes tingle, and Ilongto touch her.
Me. Longing. I don’t fucking long. Ever.
We have a problem.
“A surprise?” she says, her voice happier than it was a few seconds ago.
“Yep.” I nod. “You ready to roll?”
She glances down at her outfit: simple skinny jeans and a dark gray V-neck complete with another pair of TOMS. I can’t tell for certain from here, but I believe there’s another sort of animal on them. “Am I dressed okay?”
“You look breathtaking.” I say it not only because I mean it, but because it’s what I would say if things weren’t so distant between us right now.
Giving me a small, disbelieving smile, she rolls her eyes. “Whatever. Let’s go. Where are we eating?”
“I don’t know. Where do you want to eat?”
She shrugs. “I don’t care. Where doyouwant to eat?”
I groan as I open the door for her, giving her a side-eye glance as she passes me. “We’re not playing that game.”
“What game?”
“Thatgame. The one where we spend twenty minutes saying ‘I don’t care’ or ‘where doyouwant to eat’. It’s exhausting.”
“But Idon’tcare,” she argues.
“Liar,” I say instantly, ushering her from the building and directing her toward my car. “Come on. I’ll drive.”
