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“Didn’t like my song?”
Jared released a bitter laugh. “Not as much as the rest of the crowd did.”
Anna Beth shrugged. “Just another item checked off my list.”
“Good for you.”
“Hey, you don’t get to be mad at me.” She jabbed a finger into his shoulder. “You practically ghosted me for two days, then send me some stupid gif about brunch.”
“I’m not doing this with you. Not like this.”
Jared walked down the sidewalk, but Anna Beth kept up. “Oh, what? You think there’s some big mystery to your behavior? You got scared.”
He whirled around to face her. “You’re damn right I got scared. You keep telling me you’re only here temporarily. If we get involved and you leave, I’ll still be here getting over you. Again.”
Anna Beth stared at him, speechless.
“It’s easier for me to stay away from you than it is to be around you and pretend I don’t want to strip you naked and kiss every inch of your body. Do you understand that? I thought I was over you and then you came back here and it turns out I’m not. And now that I’ve tasted you, I’m going crazy not being with you.”
Her eyes flashed under the streetlamp. “So what? You decide to bail before you get too attached? Too bad for me, I was already there. Your bailing made me feel ten inches tall. I kept telling myself not to cross that line with you, but you made me feel alive again. It’s thrilling and wonderful and scary, but I let my guard down. I trusted you and you pulled away from me. But somehow, I’m the bad guy responsible for your insecurities? Screw that, and screw you, Jared.”
Anna Beth stomped back toward the bar but he caught her arm and pressed her back into the side of the building. She put her hands up against his chest when he caged her in with his arms on either side.
“I’m an idiot,” he said.
Anna Beth stopped pushing against him and glared up at him. “No shit.”
“I’m sorry.”
Her chin jutted out belligerently. “For what, specifically?”
“For running scared. F
or not talking to you. For putting my insecurities on you.”
After several beats, she whispered, “Keep going.”
Jared chuckled, leaning his forehead against hers. “A.B., you make me so freaking nuts. You always have.”
“You were already crazy; I just exacerbate the symptoms.”
“Fair enough.” He rubbed his nose against hers. “Still mad at me?”
“Yes.”
“Anything I can do to make it up to you?”
“Tell me you like my dress.”
“I fucking love your dress.”
Anna Beth chuckled. “Tammy said it would make men go wild.”
“I like that part less.”
Anna Beth slid her hands under his coat and around his waist, resting her palms at the small of his back. “You’re jealous.”
“Somewhat.”
