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“I e could be friends,” I accidentally say out loud I’ve held those words in for so long it feels like I’ve dropped a bombshell He’s so silent I think maybe he didn’t hear me But then he casts me a look so contemptuous that I feel a painful twist inside

“We’ll never, ever be friends” He says friends like he’d say the word pathetic

When he slows the car at the front of the bar I’ before he’s even come to a coister that he calls me Lucy

I see Danny at the bar, bottle of beer dangling froh the crowd and fall into his arentlereed to spend an evening with

“Hi” Danny is pleased “You made it”

“’Course!” I h “I need a drink after the day I’ve had”

I hoist nals to the bartender Identical baseball bats swing on huge screens positioned above the bar I feel the ertips to my lips

“A big gin and tonic As big as you can, please”

The bartender obliges and I empty half of the contents into my mouth and maybe a little down my chin I lick the corners of my mouth and I still taste Joshua Danny catches lass

“Is everything okay? I think you need to tell me about your day”

I take a good look at hied into some dark jeans and a nice button-down check shirt I like that he’s e for me

“You look nice,” I tell him honestly, and his eyes spark

“And you look beautiful” His tone is confidential He leans his elbow on the bar and his face is open and without malice I feel a weird bubble of emotion inside my chest

“What?” I wipeat me like he does not hate me It’s bizarre

“I couldn’t exactly tell you at work But I’ve always thought you were the irl”