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"So you think this shrink stuff is really working?" She ignored the skepticism in his voice For the most part, he’d been pretty supportive of her ith the tea with theure out if her ability was truly useful or not Especially how much time she spent with Rafe But she kne he felt about her seeing a psychiatrist: She didn’t need therapy; there wasn’t anything wrong with her He thought it was a waste of time for her to see a doctor whose job it was to treat "crazy people"
Violet couldn’t help finding it sweet that he didn’t consider her at least a little crazy, her being the girl who found dead bodies and all That was enough to unbalance anyone, wasn’t it?
She nodded "I do, Jay I don’t know that I’ve ever felt this in control before a body was buried"
Jay mulled that over for a second, and then asked, "Is this a case you’re working on"--his eyes shifted around,to the sensation and squeezed her fists "You know I’ed hirinned deliberately up at him "But yeah, it is"
Behind her, she heard the coach’s whistle and knew she’d run out of ti back to basketball drills hten, but she stood up on her tiptoes and leaned into Jay, whispering against his cheek "I got your note last night Would’ve been better if I’d have found you in rabbed her by the shoulders There was the hint of accusation buried behind his breathy chuckle as he set her away fro with fire, Vi You shouldn’t tease me at school Besides, I think if I hid in your room, your father--check that, your mother--would skinher na off But she didn’t care
She flashed him her most wolfish smile "Next time, you should totally take that chance It could’ve been fun," she pro away
Attraction
HE SAT AT THE TABLE IN THE CORNER, KEEPING his head low, his eyes down He didn’t want to draw attention Not today Not yet Not because he didn’t want to be seen, but because it didn’t matter Even if they saw him, they wouldn’t be worried
He took a bite of his sandwich, turkey on whole wheat, hold thehe’d ordered every day for the past week Same order, saain and lifted the newspaper, holding it in front of his face as he dared a quick glance at the girl behind the counter
She s away quickly when he s to tuck a nonexistent stray hair behind her ear as she turned to get his change
Even froesture, the difficulty ht-lipped sirl was shy--painfully so
That’s whathere, day after day, working so hard toto coax a real smile from her An effortless, carefree smile
He understood her He could help her If she let hiht even be able to fix her
Still, he hated watching as her hands brushed over theirs, as they passed her s filled with pastries and sandwiches He felt an instant surge of jealousy It was familiar and deep and painful That was the same, too, the resentment he felt when he watched her interact with the customers
No, not all the customers--the ed theain Why she tried so hard to smile at them, when he knewthat what she really wanted was hiaze again, breathing deeply, re hiain, quickly, briefly, feeling relieved as he saw theand step away fro jealous, he told hiirlfriend or anything
His girlfriend was gone He’d broken up with her, and noas alone again Probably why he was feeling so lonely, so bitter
He took another bite of his sandwich, setting the newspaper aside, but just for the moment
He suddenly felt claustrophobic within the space of the café, like he needed to get outside He felt anxious thinking about the girl behind the counter, thinking about his ex-girlfriend, and glancing at the front page of the paper out of the corner of his eye He stared instead at his lap, trying to get his emotions back under control
And that hen he saw it, the flash of pale purple beneath his right thumbnail He couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed it before, that he’dhis hands hidden beneath the table, he used the nail of his left index finger to dig at the polish, cursing hi so careless, so reckless He hoped that no one else had noticed it He ran through the list of people he’d come in contact with already that day
He retraced his steps in his head, trying to reht have had the opportunity to see his hands up close