AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And he wasn’t?”
I shrug. “We’ll never know. But he made the decision without consulting me. He broke my trust.”
“And your heart,” he says.
I nod.
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too.”
“I would never do that, Liv. If you were mine and needed protecting, I’d keep you close and never let you go.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“You’re defending him now?”
I sigh and roll to my side again. “No. There’s a lot you don’t know.”
“So, tell me.”
I bite my lip and consider telling him the full truth. My fingers wrap around the sparrow on my neck, and he reaches out and holds it for a closer look. “I see you toying with this all the time. Did Luke give it to you?”
“Sort of. The necklace was a present from my friends. But Luke gave me the nickname, Sparrow.”
“That’s a strange nickname. I’d never equate you to a fragile bird.”
I shake my head as he drops the pendant. “It’s not about that.”
“Then what’s it about?”
I ponder his question for a moment. “It’s about surviving when your life is a shitstorm.”
He smiles. “Now that I get.” He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear when it flies in my face. The gesture is so nonchalant, I’m not even sure he realizes he’s done it.
“If talking about him helps you move on, let’s hash it out so the rest of us can stand a chance.”
“It’s not like I have a line of guys waiting in the wings.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Wanna bet?” I blow raspberries and he chuckles. “Ok, not a line. But there are guys who are interested.”
I stare at him for a few seconds. “Like you?”
He smirks. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” He waggles his eyebrows and I shove his arm.
“Hey, quit it. I can’t work with a broken arm. Which means I can’t earn a living. Which means I’m mooching off you for the rest of my life. Wait… that doesn’t sound half bad now that I think about it. Never mind, do it again.”
I laugh. “Nuh uh. If you’re stuck with me, you better be able to work out. I’m not taking care of a fat, lazy asshole.”
“Don’t worry girls, the mean lady didn’t mean it. You’re not going anywhere. Daddy loves you.” He leans on his shoulder and flexes both arms, making obnoxious kissing sounds as he pretends to make out with his bicep.
“I can’t compete with the ladies. I’d never stand a chance,” I say through my laughter.
He grins. “Does that mean you want a chance?”
Faster than I can think, he rolls and pins me beneath him in one fluid motion. I grin up at him. “A chance to breathe, you big oaf? Yes, please.”
He moves off my ribs and leans on his elbow to the side, but our bodies are still touching from chests to feet. My laughter sobers at the proximity and the serious expression that now sits on his face.
