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“Don’t let me keep you, Barlow,” I told her, implying some guy was texting for a hook up, but fully suspecting it was just Hadley.
“It’s just Hadley.”
Called it. “Ah. And, what is Miss Reynolds up to tonight? Or should I ask who?”
Piper rearranged like she was settling in for a while longer. “She and her parents drove to Melbourne today to see her grandparents.”
“So, her night will not compare to ours then.”
She snorted. “I think even she would prefer to sit on a cold lakeshore with you than be stuck at her grandparents’ house.”
“You’re cold?” flew out of my mouth like I’d move fucking mountains to change it. What the fuck did she do to me?
“Not really,” she said, burrowing completely believably into her jumper.
“You can have my jacket,” I said as I started shucking it.
She put her hand on my arm and we both stared at each other for a painful heartbeat.
“I’m fine, Lombardi. But, thanks.”
“You sure?”
She nodded, her head tilting to the side. “You give me your jacket and I’ll be overheating and you’ll be freezing and I’ll feel guilty.”
Thank fuck she saved me from my fucking nancy instincts. “Well. Can’t have that.”
“No.”
“Much better that I’m comfortable and you’re cold.”
“I’m only a little cold. I’m fine.”
“I’ll tell you a secret, Barlow. I’m a little cold, too. So, I’m bloody glad you didn’t take me up on it.”
“Oh, was that you being a gentleman again?” she sassed.
I grabbed a smoke and let the familiar action distract my hands and mouth. “Can’t be. I’m not a gentleman, remember?”
“I remember a lot of things about you.”
I laughed at that thought. “Yeah, like what?”
“I remember the time in Year Four when Katie Morris kissed you on the playground and you cried.”
Fuck.
I spluttered and looked at her. “I what?”
“You cried and ran to Miss… Oh, what was her name?” she muttered.
“Miss Davies,” I told her matter-of-fact.
“Ha! So you do remember.”
Of course I did.
I shook my head. “Not at all. I do not at all remember my first kiss on the playground and burying my face in Miss Davies skirts because I was petrified of girl cooties. No idea what you’re talking about, Barlow.”
