Page 53 of Power Play

I set the mug on the counter. “That sounds good in theory.”

“It’s better in practice.”

“You say that because you’ve never seen me assemble a garment twelve hours before critique.”

“I’ve seen you threaten a sewing machine.”

“It betrayed me.”

“You called it a talentless little bitch.”

“It was skipping stitches.”

Ryan smiled as he pushed away from the counter.

He came closer slowly enough that I had time to notice every inch disappearing between us.

“That’s the version I like.”

“The one verbally abusing appliances?”

“The one who forgets to make herself smaller.”

My pulse climbed.

His gaze moved over my face while I searched for something clever enough to put space back between us, but nothing came.

Ryan stopped directly in front of me.

He lifted one hand and caught the delicate chain at my throat between two fingers before sliding them down toward the pendant I had been touching all afternoon.

“You do this when you’re nervous.”

“I like the necklace.”

“You straighten shit too.”

“I appreciate order.”

His mouth almost curved, but then his eyes sharpened.

“You stop eating when you’re stressed.”

Every warm thing in the room disappeared at once. My lungs locked, and Ryan must have seen the change because he released the necklace immediately.

“I’m not interrogating you.”

“It sounds suspiciously thorough.”

“I pay attention.”

“You keep saying that.”

“You keep acting surprised.”

I looked away.

Most people noticed what I wanted them to notice: the clothing, the grades, the right words. If somebody commented that I looked thin, I smiled. If somebody asked what I was eating, I laughed and changed the subject. If Bliss pushed fries at me, I ate one where she could see me and hated myself for it later.