Dead Pretty - Samantha Towle Page 0,5

over because I wanted to thank you again for looking after Eleven last night.”

“It was no problem at all.” I clutch the book to my chest.

Then, there’s this moment of silence—you know the kind.

The kind where someone needs to speak, or it will just get weird.

People hate awkwardness. It makes them uncomfortable, and they need to get as far away from it as humanly possible.

And usually, I would just continue on with the silence, allowing it to become uncomfortable, knowing the other person would make their excuses and walk away, leaving me alone. Because that’s what I want.

But this time … I don’t.

I’m the one to speak. “So, how is Eleven?”

He smiles. It’s wide and happy, and it gives me a pleasant feeling in my belly. I choose not to delve into the why.

“Well, she’s not happy with regular old cat food now. She turned her nose up at it this morning. I think she’s gotten a taste for tuna.”

“Oops. Sorry.” I screw up my face, apologetic.

He laughs. It’s rich and warm. Like melted chocolate in my mouth.

“No need to be sorry. You did me a favor. Not many people would have looked out for her like you did.”

I shrug, looking down at my feet. “Sure, they would.”

“No, they wouldn’t.” It’s the insistent tone of his voice that brings my eyes back up to his.

There is something incredibly hypnotic about his eyes. I find it hard to look away from them—and him.

The quiet between Jack and me is here again, but now, it’s filled with something else … something that I shouldn’t be feeling around any man.

But I still can’t seem to look away.

Thankfully, Jack breaks the spell he put me under.

“So”—he clears his throat—“I was wondering if you would let me buy you a coffee, as a thanks for taking care of Eleven yesterday.”

Of course, my hormones immediately say yes.

Thankfully, my head is smarter and more in control than my long-underused female parts.

“That’s not necessary. But thank you for the offer.”

See, I can say no politely.

“Come on. You’ve got to let me do something. Buy you a takeout coffee at least?”

He pushes his hands into his jean pockets, rocking back on his heels. His smile is boyish. And the old me would have fallen for it in seconds.

Well, to be fair, the old Audrey would have said yes to the first offer of coffee, quite likely sitting in a coffee shop with him right now—or well on her way to one.

But this Audrey won’t. She can’t.

“Honestly, it’s not necessary.” I keep my face pleasant but my tone firm.

“Okay.” He nods, seeming to get the hint. “But the offer stands if you ever change your mind.”

I won’t.

“Thanks.”

His smile is congenial. “Right, well, I’ll leave you in peace. Have a good rest of the day.”

“You too. Have a great day, that is.”

For Christ’s sake. I really wish I could be normal, just for once.

Jack hesitates a moment, like he’s going to say something else. I hold my breath, waiting. Wanting him to both go and stay in equal measure. It’s a weird feeling for me.

Usually, all I want is for people to leave me alone.

With him … it’s definitely mixed.

I want to push him away with one hand and pull him back with the other.

It’s confusing and disconcerting. I have known the guy not even twenty-four hours.

Okay, I was maybe watch-stalking him for a little longer than that.

But that doesn’t mean I know him because I most definitely do not.

You never really know anyone.

“So, I’ll see you around, Audrey,” he says.

The feelings his deep voice elicits in me have me turning away from him, giving him my back. “Probably not. Bye, Jack.”

I sound like a bitch. But it’s best he thinks of me as one.

I don’t need Jack to think we’re neighbors who can chat.

Yes, we might be neighbors, but my avoidance skills are second to none. If avoiding people were an Olympic sport, I would be a gold medalist.

I lift the book in my hand, ready to put it back in its place on the shelf.

I hear Jack sigh softly behind me, followed by the sound of his footsteps as he walks away, leaving me alone.

Alone, like I want to be.

I stare down at the silent cell phone in my hand.

I used to have a phone that rang often. Dinged with text messages. Social media notifications.

I had friends. A life.

Now, I have a phone that stays silent. No text messages from friends. No social media accounts, as I deleted them