Page 55 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

“Could I get your number? You live in LA now, right? Maybewe could—”

“I don’t think so.” She slides her eyes to a point over myshoulder. “That’s probably not a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“I think you know.”

We stare at each other, stewing in the shared memory, notonly of the night we bared our hopes to each other butof the night that followed. The night that changed everything for me and forCliff.

A couple stumbles down the hall, kissing and not reallypaying attention. They bump into me and pull apart to study us.

“Sorry.” The woman giggles, her blue eyes a little glassy. Irecognize her as one of the models from today’s show.

“You finished in there?” The guy nods to the bathroom whereTakira stands in the door.

“Oh.” Takira steps out of the way, clearing their path.“Yeah, sorry.”

“Thanks,” the model says, grabbing her partner’s hand anddragging him inside, slamming and locking the door behind them.

“I think that’s my cue to go,” Takira says, turning to headup the hall.

I grasp her wrist, being careful with the strong, slim bonescaptured between my fingers. She looks from that point of contact between us upto my face.

“Five minutes,” I say.

She blows out a long sigh, her expression resigned, andnods. “Five.”

A few people wander into the hall to wait for the bathroom.Judging by the grunts and pants coming through that door, they might be waitinga minute. I don’t miss the speculative glances some send my way. You don’tcatch me chasing nobody. A monk I’m not, but youwon’t find me trending. I keep a low profile. So me standing in the hallpractically petitioning a woman for five minutes of her time… Idon’t need folks in my business like that.

Not releasing Takira’s wrist, I lead her farther down thehall and to a flight of stairs. I glance over my shoulder to meet the questionin her eyes.

“Just a little privacy,” I tell her. “There’s a placedownstairs.”

After a small pause, she nods and allows me to continue. Thestairwell empties into the billiard room. I was down here with Kenan and someof the guys earlier playing pool, but they all went to find their girls. Luckyfor me, the room is now empty. I lean against the pool table, and she works herwrist free from my loosened grip. Putting some space between us, she hops uponto the edge of the table beside me and kicks her shoes off.

“Sorry,” she says, smiling ruefully and wiggling her toes.“Had to. Been on my feet all day.”

“You have pretty feet.”

I bite my tongue because judging by the half-amused look sheangles at me, that was not a normal thing I should have said in this moment.Somehow I’ve reverted to the awkward kid I was at eighteen.

“Thank you.” She yields a grin and leans back on the heelsof her palms. “Your five minutes start now.”

If I only get five minutes, I’m diving in.

“I called you,” I tell her. “After the game, I mean.”

“You did?” she asks with a frown.

“Yeah. I didn’t have your cell, so I called your house.” Ihuff out a self-deprecating laugh. “I guess I thought even after what happenedat the game with Cliff, there might still be a chance for us to hang out. Getto know each other.”

“I didn’t know you called,” she says softly.

“Yeah. The first time, Cliff answered.” I chuckle withoutany real humor. “You can imagine how that went.”

“His anger with you was unjustified.” She looks at mesquarely. “You didn’t punch that coach. Cliff did, and it cost him everything.Well, it cost him a chance at division-one ball. The bad decisions he madeafter that—the drugs—they cost him everything else.”

“I knew he had a temper. We all knew, but I never expectedhim to lose it like that.”