Page 35

“Oh. What? For being irresistibly gorgeous all the time?”

She hung her head. “Fortoday. I needed a day off. And I needed to get out. And I needed to go do something I’d been thinking of for a while. So… thanks.”

Something pulled so tight in my chest I could barely breathe, and I pushed out a smile at her. “Paisley’s a genius. What else is new?”

“I’m being sincere over here.”

Sincerity sucked. But I guess I had to respect her efforts. I shifted closer to her, and I laid a hand on her knee, where she was pulling her legs into her chest. “Thanks for going along with it,” I said, speaking softly. “I’m gonna miss you… like, alot.I’ll be thinking about you all the time, you know.”

She sighed hard, avoiding looking at me. “You’ll have plenty of other people to think about.”

“Yeah, and none of them are you. There’s always going to be a you-shaped space left behind here. And… you know, if you ever want to come back and visit, come see little old me again, see what kind of dork-ass outfits I’m putting on next, that space will always be open for you.”

She made a noncommittal sound, hunching into herself, looking away. “And see if maybe you’ve pushed your boundaries to include ketchup.”

“Hey. I’ll have you know I had ketchup on my eggs this morning.”

“Incredible. And it didn’t burn your mouth off?”

“Nah. I had scrambled eggs, so, you know, the creaminess kind of offset the spice.”

She sighed. “I think… if I’m being honest,” she said, her voice falling off smaller and smaller, and then she didn’t say anything—just looking down at her feet, swirling her tea. I watched her for a while before I cleared my throat.

“If you’re being honest, it typically involves saying something.”

She looked away. “I guess it’s going to be quieter there.”

I scowled. “That’s not typically what someone says when leaving somewhere like Bayview for somewhere like New York City. I’m assured it’s much louder there.”

She mumbled something, finally settling on a quiet, “It’s just going to be… personally quieter without you there, I guess is what it really comes down to.”

I blinked. “Harps, are you trying to admit that you’ll miss me too?”

“Definitely not.”

“Hmm.”

She groaned, raking a hand back through her hair. “Okay, I guess I am. It’s going to be, uh… let’s say difficult to replace you. You’re very… unique like that.”

I scowled, looking away. “You could try not to make it sound like you’re forced to compliment someone you despise.”

“I—dammit, this isn’t easy. Will you just look at me?”

“Nah. I’m enjoying the scenery.” The scenery out the little window strip was nice, but shockingly, it actually wasn’t the reason I was pointedly turned away. She grabbed me by the wrist again, tugging, but I was steadfast.

“You’re not making it any easier. Same for your damn outfit. I’m not giving you pity compliments, I think you look good.”

“Yeah?” I gave her a lazy look. “I look hot, right?”

“Very,” she said, with that tone like it slipped out without her meaning to, and she froze at the realization of what she’d just said, eyes wide. She blushed again. Suddenly, I couldn’t find it in me to be embarrassed anymore. I turned to face her.

“Oh yeah?” I said. “You like seeing me in tight-fitting clothes, huh?”

“No—that’s not what I meant.” She was only getting redder. Now she was the one who wouldn’t look at me.

“Is it not? Maybe that you like how much skin this shows?”

“Paisley—I’m not—”