Page 17

She glances at me, her face pink, and then back at Bruno and nods at him. When her eyes find me again, the blush intensifies. She bites her lower lip and speaks, her voice tentative, as if she’s not used to the words she’s saying.

“Okay, I’ll go on a date with you.”

Then she adds, “For my birthday.”

As if that’s the only reason anyone would want to take her on a date. It bothers me, but I don’t let it show and smile instead. I’m excited about it. It feels like the first real date I’ve had since high school. The newness and expectation of it send a thrill through me.

At that, Bruno grabs her phone, enters the lock screen code, and taps the screen a few times and then points it at me and takes my picture before I even know what he’s doing.

“What’s your number?”

I give him my number and he enters it into the phone.

“So, should I put this under Logan or Officer Hot Cop?” he asks Skye with a smirk.

“Logan Cole,” I say at the same time River says, “Officer Hot Cop.”

He taps the screen a few more times and my phone vibrates.

“There, now you have her number too, and I sent you a picture so you can add it to the contacts.”

“You sent him a picture? Which one?”

“Don’t worry,” Bruno says. “It's a cute one.”

She tries to grab her phone from him, but he holds his arm high, keeping it away from her.

Curious, I grab my phone and key my code in and look at the picture. I can’t help the smile that spreads over my face. It’s a beautiful picture. It had to be taken in the summer because Skye is wearing a sundress, and the sun is low on the horizon behind her, giving her face an ethereal glow, her hair floating in the wind. She’s not looking at the camera but is lost in thought, and I wonder what she was thinking about then.

Oh, man,fuck! I have to stop this giddy high school crap I have going on right now.

It’s just a pretty girl.

Nothing else.

Soon enough, she’ll show her true colors.They always do.

Don’t get stupid over it. A plan. I need a plan so I know where I stand before this goes any further.

Pat stops by, gives River and Bruno their own cups of coffee, and puts a plate in the middle of the table filled with pastries. She ruffles Bruno’s hair like a mother would. “Hey, big boy. How’s the family?”

He shrugs.

“Same as always, Pat.”

He reaches in his pocket for his wallet, but Pat waves him off.

“Pay me next time.”

“You always say that. But next time never comes.”

Pat puts a hand on his shoulder and squeezes. He covers her hand with his.

“Thank you.”

She waves him off again and walks back to the counter.

All eyes are on Bruno, but he makes no eye contact with me or River. He looks quickly at Skye, who in turn squeezes his hand on the table and then turns to the plate of food.