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The point of his jaw flexed. His bright eyes met hers for a second, shadows forming behind his irises. Then he looked away. “He wasn’t a good guy—let’s just leave it at that.”
He picked up his glass again. Zoe bit her lip. She should probably leave well enough alone.
But the book he’d started to crack open didn’t feel shut quite yet. She couldn’t shake the sense that hewantedto talk about this. How many times had she caught him holding himself back? Was this just more restraint?
What would it be like if he let go?
And honestly. Poking the bear had gotten her this far.
“You don’t have to.”
He lowered his drink and stared at her in question.
She took a deep breath. “You don’t have to leave it at that. If you don’t want to.” Her face warmed, but she wasn’t backing down. “I’m happy to listen.”
He regarded her for a long, silent moment. The sounds of the bar around them filtered in. It had felt like they’d been in their own little world this whole time, but there were other people here. Not many. It really was late. But a few. Clay was still kicking around here somewhere.
No one else mattered, though.
As the moment stretched on, she held her ground, waiting patiently.
Finally, he grabbed his beer and tossed the rest of it back. He gestured at her drink. She was tempted to finish it, too, especially when he put on his jacket. The taste of it soured in her mouth. She’d pushed too far, huh? Sometimes she did that. She set her half-full glass on the bar.
But then he tipped his head toward the door.
“Come on. Let me walk you home.”
The offer took her by surprise. Neither of them had had so much to drink that they couldn’t drive. She probablyshoulddrive. Getting her car in the morning would be a hassle.
But walking home… walking home was good.
LettingDevinwalk her home. Well, that was downright great.
When he extended his hand to help her up? No way that was an invitation she could refuse.
His calloused fingers were warm against hers. He gripped her tightly as she popped down from the stool. Was she imagining it when he held on for a second even after her feet hit the floor?
He let go, and she dropped her gaze. She untied her flannel from around her waist and shrugged it on.
Then she followed him out into the night.
It was chillier than she was prepared for, but between the Asian flush from the little alcohol she’d had and the heat Devin radiated at her side, she didn’t mind. She crossed her arms over her chest.
Devin didn’t have to ask where she lived, of course. He’d been hanging out at the Leung house for a decade or two. They were both quiet as they headed north on Main Street.
The crisp air smelled like fall, the last few leaves of the season just clinging to the trees. She hugged herself more tightly. The dark sky above shone with stars and a half-full moon. Twinkling lights draped over the white fences all along Main Street gave everything a cozy feel.
She sighed. When she’d first realized she’d have to move home, she’d spent most of her time thinking about how annoying it would be to have to camp out in her mom’s basement. She’d been right about that. Her mother’s constant, snide comments about her prospects had only added to the ambience.
She hadn’t been thinking about this, though. Blue Cedar Falls was beautiful by day, with the bright blue sky above and the mountains all around them. At night it was quiet and still, and it just felt like…
Home.
A tiny shiver racked her, followed by a pang. Getting a real job would be great, but the more time she spent here in Blue Cedar Falls—and with Devin—the less eager she was to leave.
Misunderstanding her shiver, Devin glanced down at her. “Cold?”
“I’m fine.”
