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"Do I know you?" I asked, but I realized immediately that I did I’d seen him before "Froht"

Strong black brows drew together as he watchedinspected, but in an entirely different way fronizable tangled in the pit of er than I’d ree for the crowded space in which we stood,me feel childlike and small He took up far too much room, breathed far too htened,through my systehtened as my eyes remained fastened on his

"I wasn’t sure you’d be h B7;t 17;d be ere tonight" His voice was low--al around us

"Yeah, ht," I shot back

He raised one brow uncertainly "Is this a bad tio"

I could feel the restless crowd around us If I’d really wanted to be alone, Prey would be the last place I’d be But I suddenly felt trapped by his cool, flint-colored eyes They were disquieting in a way I didn’t understand My breath lodged inthat I should look away from hied, and that tangle knotted deeper, taut threads of hesitant e that he was to be avoided deepened

He frowned, but his lips quirked "Good, because it was an e I’rew, and I could tell, too, that he was teasing me I wished in that moment that I could be more like Brook I wished that I was more confident around boys He held his hand out to me

When I didn’t take it, he drew it back and rubbed it along his jaw, a nothing of a gesture, yet I couldn’t help noting that he was al silence as the ed I knew I should tell hining interest in the dancers on the stage above us The truth was, though, all I really noticed was hilances whenever I could His clothing was finer than anything I’d ever seen before--even the silk Aron had givento stroke the rich fabric of his jacket Just once

I caughtmy chin up a notch, thankful that I’d stoppeda fool ofat me, for me, and my heart stopped

I turned to look at him The hard planes of his face softened, and suddenly he was dangerously boyish And beautiful Far too beautiful And, like the fabric of his coat, h his short, dark hair, to feel his smooth-shaven jaw, to trace my thu? Maybe I was too ed o" I fumbled over my words as I stepped backwardfirst one aard step, and then another

Max frowned, reaching out to stop me "Wait Don’t leave" I could feel the warh the simple dress I wore, and I suddenly wished that I’d let Brooklynn talkone of hers They weren’t any newer, but the fabrics were richer And infinitely ainstat his thick fringe of dark lashes, and once more was unnerved by the sensation that I shouldn’t do that, that I was meant to look away I reminded myself that here--in the Blf t12;in th club--class bore no distinction Even if it was only an illusion

But that thought emboldened me, and I let a half smile find my lips as I tipped o?"

I was rewarded by a grin even as he released ht at least tell me your name It’s the least you could do, since I came here to see you" His eyebrow lifted, and my pulse quickened

I shookme Surely it was Brooklynn he’d"So what’s the deal, do you have a thing for the underdog best friend? Or was it the fact that I nearly got allows that attracted you?"

A troubled look crossed Max’s face, and I realized that, like Brooklynn, he wasn’t aotten irl But his next words had nothing to do hat he’d overheard at the restaurant "Do you not realize how beautiful you are?" he asked, leaning closer

My face grear above all else, even the hter wasto break the spell I was under I turned to find her, searching the crowd, and spotting her glossy black curls easily

"I’ht, and only over h hands and aret to Brook