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“I’m good. The weather’s supposed to be okay today, so I’m just going to skate.”
“Okay. See you tonight.”
“See you tonight.”
PATTY’S IS BUSY for a Wednesday, and I’m completely run off my feet, which is not a bad thing because it keeps me distracted from my inappropriate thoughts of Harley. I pour drinks, deliver meals, clean tables, and even help Ashton wash some dishes when the rush dies down just before the end of my shift.
Patty asks me to take the rubbish out to the skip binbefore I leave. I use my shoulder to push open the back door that leads into the alley behind the bar. After getting rid of the rubbish, I turn to go back inside when I get the feeling I’m being watched.
I glance toward the street, but there’s no one there. A shiver runs down my spine, and I hurry back inside, slamming the door behind me. Jeremy looks up in surprise, but I just force a smile on my face and hurry out of the kitchen to the staff room to grab my bag and my skateboard.
I go into Patty’s office to grab my pay and call out to Greg as I leave. Out on the street, I still have that creepy feeling like I’m being watched, but I shake it off. It’s just a residual effect from the stupid nightmares. My father and Declan have no idea where I am. No one is looking for me. My life here is safe.
I drop my board to the ground and push off. With only a week left of winter, the weather is starting to improve, and I enjoy the warmth of the sun on my face as I skate home along the beach.
When I turn off the main street toward the Breed’s, I notice a black jeep with tinted windows speed off towards Glassons Point. A chill runs down my spine.
I’m relieved when I see Harley’s bike in the driveway. I rush inside, locking the front door and peeking out the window next to it. I tense at the sound of footsteps behind me, resting my head against the cool glass.
“Hey, what’s up? You okay?”
I force a smile before turning to face Harley. “Fine. Justtired from work.”
He arches a brow. “And that’s why you locked the front door?” He chuckles, taking a bite of the apple in his hand. “I forgot there was even a lock on the damn thing.”
“Oh,” I glance over my shoulder at the deadbolt. “Sorry, habit from living in the city.”
“Tom won’t be impressed if he’s locked out,” he says with a wink. I suck in a deep breath as he leans over me and flicks the lock. His smell is intoxicating, and my cheeks heat as I think about what I did in my bed this morning thinking about him.
“Yeah, of course,” I breathe out, my eyes locked on his ice blue ones. “Sorry.”
“You sure you’re okay?” he murmurs.
We’re so close our breath mingles, and I run my tongue over my dry lips, his eyes following the movement. My heart is racing.
“Lily, I–” His phone rings, and he jerks away, running a hand through his hair as he pulls it out of his pocket. “Zeke? Hey man… Yeah, sure. No, it’s fine. You’re not interrupting anything. What’s up?”
My stomach drops as he turns and walks away. Not interrupting anything at all.
SEVENTEEN
HARLEY
TOM’S ALREADY HOME for the third time this week when I walk in after class on Thursday. He and Lily are in the kitchen already getting a start on dinner, a Dermot Kennedy song playing on the portable speaker. I can’t fight the grin teasing my lips as I watch Lily shake her hips in time to the beat, but it slips slightly when she turns to my brother, and they both sing into the spatula. They look good together. Happy. She deserves someone that’s not messed up in the head like me.
I miss that connection with someone. We’ve been sleeping in the same bed for the last five nights, though the nightmares seem to have stopped, but that’s nothing more than me making sure she doesn’t have to go through them alone. I miss having someone special to share everything with.
I’m an idiot. I could have kissed her yesterday. I felt the way her breathing hitched when I leaned in. I saw the wayher gaze dropped to my mouth. It should have been easy for me to close the distance and finally taste her. But instead, I used the phone call from Zeke as an excuse to walk away from her.
“Hey!” Lily grins, spotting me in the doorway. She turns down the music. “You’re both home early today. This is fun.”
I raise my brow at Tom. “Things at the garage still quiet?”
He shrugs. “Nothing to worry about.”
I don’t believe him, but I’m not about to call him out in front of Lily. “What’s for dinner?”
“Braised beef pastitsada,” Lily tells me. “It’s my YiaYia’s recipe.”
