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“A girl who knows exactly who she is and what she wants but, forgive me for saying, is maybe too afraid to reach out and take it when it’s standing right in front of her.”
“You act like you know so much about me when in truth, you couldn’t be more wrong.” I pause, trying not to lose my focus in the depths of his incredible eyes. “I haven’t got a clue who I am. Let alone what I want. I’m just trying to stand on my own two feet and not get trampled on by the swarm of people moving around me.”
“Tell me something then.” He tips my chin up so I’m forced to meet his gaze. “If I know nothing about you then why do I feel like I’ve known you forever?”
“Maybe because you’re delusional,” I tease.
“Or maybe it’s because I see you more clearly then you see yourself.”
“You see me so clearly?” I challenge. “Then tell me what else you see.”
He stares at me for a long moment, thinking it over.
“I see someone who doesn’t realize her own beauty.”
“Superficial.” I shake my head. “Try again.”
“Tough critic.” He chuckles. “Okay, how about this... You had a rough childhood and carry a lot of resentment toward your parents, but you don’t quite know how to compartmentalize your feelings.” He pauses, reading my reaction. Something must tell him he’s on the right track because he quickly continues, “Instead of dealing with your problems, you fled the first chance you got, hoping for a fresh start. You’re incredibly smart, but not in a smug way. You care a lot. Sometimes too much, which has led to you being taken advantage of more times than you care to admit.”
I stare back at him in stunned silence, wondering how the hell he got me so spot on.
“Am I close?” He grins, knowing based on my reaction that not only is he close, but he’s got me pegged so clearly I’m not sure if I should be scared or amused.
“My turn.” I avoid the question, needing to take the focus off of me.
“Do your worst.” His smile widens.
“Spoiled rich kid. Youngest of five siblings. You want to prove you’re different so you made yourself stand out, never following the obvious path. You have the love of a family who cares what happens to you, yet for some reason you resent them for it. You’re desperate to prove you’re more than they think you are, and even though you’re happy being just who you are, they’re acceptance weighs more heavily on you than you’d ever admit.”
His smile falters. “Please tell me I’m not that transparent.”
“Truthfully.” I stop moving. “I took a wild guess.”
“Pretty good for a fucking wild guess.” He shakes his head, his smile sliding back into place. “What do you say we get out of here?” The abruptness of his question should surprise me but for whatever reason it doesn’t.
“And do what?”
“I’ve got an idea. But you’ll have to trust me.”
“No offense, but I’ve only just met you.”
“True. But in all fairness I’ve only just met you, and I’m willing to take the chance.” His smile widens and that damn dimple makes an appearance. “What do you have to lose?”
I open my mouth to list all the reasons why leaving this bar with him is a bad idea, but then the reality of my situation hits me like a sledgehammer to the face and suddenly those reasons seem like nothing more than pointless excuses.
Cancer. Cancer. Cancer.The one word is so loud it’s deafening and yet makes no sound at all.
“What do you say,justFinley? Wanna go have an adventure?”
“I guess that depends on what you mean by anadventure.”
“Let’s see where the night takes us.” He drops his hold on me and takes a full step back. “You in?” He extends his hand to me.
I think over his proposition for a long moment before realizing I really don’t have anything to lose.
“I’m in,” I concede, placing my hand in his.
