More, probably, if she sat on the edge of the bathroom counter while he stood between her thighs, face inches from hers and head tilted just so, the distinct scent of shaving cream and pent-up desire filling the small space…
She nearly slid onto her back and begged him to roll on top of her, saved only by him finally tapping out a message.
Yeah. I love my family and my friends. As for the other kind, I guess I have to believe it exists because I’ve felt it. But while the first two kinds feel good, the latter mostly hurt.
Well, that sucked for him. Also, agreed.
“How did it hurt?”
He shook his head.
Was that why he was the way he was? He’d had his heart broken? Frustration seeped into her tone. “You can’t just say something like that and not explain it. Who hurt you?”
Graham looked as if he wanted to smile. She saw it in his eyes.
Why, you gonna defend my honor?
They were the exact words she’d said to him weeks ago, and for some reason it irritated her.
“Maybe,” she said, mirroring his response back to her. “Isn’t that what friends do?”
He shrugged.
It was a long time ago.
“Not long enough for you to forget and move on, apparently.”
How about this? If I ever run into her and you’re with me, I’ll let you know and you can have whatever revenge your little heart desires.
It had only been one woman, then. Was that better? Or did it just mean that single experience was so bad he’d closed off the road to his heart from that moment forward? Regardless, the thought of sticking it to whoever messed with him sounded vastly satisfying. She balled her hands into fists and pressed them to her smiling mouth. “I can? Really?”
It seemed the injury to his face was improving, because he grinned. It was a little subdued and lopsided and wasn’t a classic Graham smile, but it was better than she’d had since before the accident.
Something inside her chest thumped, and she frowned at the realization of how much she adored it. In a typical day, how many of her smiles were a direct response to one of his?
And if a partial Graham smile did this to her, how would it feel when he was able to give her the real thing?
He searched her face for a second and tilted his head.
What happened? You’re frowning.
“What? No, I wasn’t.”
Yes you were. Tell me what you were thinking.
She shook her head.
OK. I’ll assume you were picturing me naked and trying to figure out logistics of sex with a cast.
“Oh, my gosh, stop.” She puffed up her cheeks and blew out a breath. “It might make you uncomfortable.”
He considered that for a moment.
I can handle it.
“Fine. I was just thinking about how much I’ve missed your smile.”
That’s it?
“Yeah.”
What’s weird about that? I miss it, too. I’ve got a great smile.
There it was again, that half grin, and the desire to close the distance between them and kiss it off his face was so strong she almost couldn’t stand it.
“Yeah,” she said, unable to speak anything but the truth. “You do.”
12
From: [email protected]
Subject: I don’t know
Claire,
Well.
I’m desperate.
You went to work and I’m bored out of my fucking mind and Noah won’t be here for another hour, so I’m trying my hand at your journaling suggestion. It still feels weird to write to no one so I’m writing to you, instead. Which only feels slightly less weird, but you said you never check this email so I figure you’ll never see it, anyway. It’ll probably just be a bunch of bullshit rambling but I’m not a fast typer so maybe by the time I’m done Noah will be here. Ooh, think maybe he’ll take me on a drive?
Now I get why Gertrude gets so excited about the car.
By the way, she seems restless today. I think she misses you. She wasn’t even like this after that family gave her up. Do you remember that? I rescued her from a burning house and the family had to move into an apartment with a no-pet rule. First, I don’t know how they could have ever given her up because she’s basically perfect. Second, Gertie didn’t even seem to miss them, so strike two in pet ownership.
My point is, if she’s looking for you, she likes you. Have you been petting her while I’ve been asleep?
Speaking of sleeping… I think you had a bad dream last night. You seemed restless but I didn’t want to wake you up. Or maybe it was a good dream, and maybe I was there…and we were doing stuff…