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You should touch his hair!

“Don’t be cute.”

“Sorry, I don’t know how to do that.”

Jake chuckled though this time his eyes didn’t lighten. “No, I guess you don’t. Where’d your dance partner go?”

“Work.”

“Little old for you, isn’t he?”

“No.”

He wasn’t. All of my close friends were older. The only guys I’d seen my age had been horrible. Some were so dull that the only desire I felt was to take a nap. Others were slightly less boring but skeeved me out, like I needed a scalding hot showerwithmy clothes on.

“You’re supposed to be with someone your own age. Closer to it, at least. Some nice kid.”

“Why? I’m an adult. I can pick who I want. If I wanted someone my age, I’d be with them. Now excuse me.” I shifted to get past him.

I barely moved when his mouth was on mine, hard and insistent. My hands went to his chest as I began to lose myself in the kiss. Before my brain could go to total mush, the pain of his rejection resurfaced.

At the reminder of what he’d said and how he’d acted, I pushed his shoulders hard. Though he only went back an inch, he did bring his head up enough to look at me.

“This is fucked up, Jake. I don’t play games.”

His eyes narrowed. “That’s not my name.”

“Everyone calls you Jake.”

“Yeah, everyonebutyou. You called me Jacoby when you found out it was my full name. I like hearin’ my name from your mouth.”

“Okay, whatever. I’ve gotta get back.” I tried to move away again but he put his forearms flat on the wall and pinned me with his body. If he were anyone else I’d feel panicked and caged.

He wasn’t just anyone, though.

“You don’t get it.”

“No. I do get it ‘cause you made that messageveryclear.” Inhaling deeply, I tried to calm my temper. “It’s fine.”

“I’m trying to do the right thing. It isn’t you.”

And there goes my Zenful calm.

“Oh, God, Jake, don’t give me the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ bullshit.”

I heard Ray calling my name from down the hall, but Jake’s body blocked my view.

“Dammit, Piper, just listen. Hear where I’m comin’ from and give me a chance to explain,” he murmured in my ear, his gravelly voice coaxing.

I wonder what else that voice could get me to do. Oh wait! Been there, done that, got the emotional burn. Where was my chance to talk last week?

That thought pissed me off to Hulk-like strength.

Or so I imagined.

I pushed away from the wall, giving Jake no choice but to move. Getting free, I turned and got toe-to-toe with him, once again wishing I was taller.

“Don’t pull that shit with me. I’m not a toy you can throw away and then get cranky about when someone else picks me up to play.”