“What? Dating my mom?”
“Touché.” I smiled, and she rolled her eyes.
“That’smybusiness, Zane Fallon.”
Oh, I liked her more and more as the conversation progressed.
“In that case, good night, Verona,” I whispered, walking past her towards my car. I didn’t look back because I didn’t have to.
Five, four, three, two —
“Wait!” Verona called.
I tried to look surprised when I turned back towards her.
“Yes?” I called.
She moved towards me, glancing back at the house as she did.
Up close, I noticed her eyes were a stunning mixture of green and brown.
“Hazel eyes. My favorite,” I murmured as she blinked, her full dark lashes framing her eyes. “Did you know hazel eyes are because of a combination of Rayleigh scattering and a moderate amount of melanin in the iris’ anterior border layer? Yours have flecks of gold. You’re lucky.”
“You’re smooth,” she said as she folded her hands over her arms.
Chipped black nail varnish, I noticed.
“So I’ve heard.”
Verona pulled her phone out and searched for me on Facebook while I watched in amusement. She looked up at me, puzzled.
“You’re not on here,” she stated as I nodded.
“If you want me, I’m right here. I prefer face-to-face contact,” I explained, scanning her face. My hand reached out to move her hair from her eyes, but she stepped back.
“I don’twantyou.” She laughed.
“If that’s all...” I sighed and checked my watch.
“Are you dismissing me?” she scoffed, and I arched a brow in her direction.
“If there’s nothing else—”
“I just wanted to say, if you ever wanted a tattoo, let me know. I’d love to be your first.” Verona winked as she handed me her business card. I gazed at the black card engraved with gold writing.
“Verona Hayes,” I murmured, glancing at the house. “Not Clancy?”
“Nope.”
She didn’t elaborate, so I tucked it into my inner jacket pocket without questioning her further.
“I’ll bear that in mind.”
I went to walk away but turned back to her one last time.
“Oh, Verona?”
She looked up at me as I swung my keys around my finger.
