Hendrix - Kelsey Clayton Page 0,57
past him, but he stops me and cages me in with my back against the counter. He's so close, his intoxicating cologne is fogging up my mind and making it hard to remember how to breathe.
“For example, if I met you at a party, I'd get this close.” He looks down at the small distance between us. “And I'd look you up and down, while subtly licking my lips.” His actions follow his words, and I'm fucking mesmerized. “I'd stare deep into your eyes, and make a comment about how the light reflects just right, making them sparkle. And when you were least expecting it, I'd lean in”—his nose brushes mine and my breath hitches—“and I'd kiss you. You know, if I met you at a party.”
He pulls away and takes a step back. It takes everything in me not to acknowledge the heavy disappointment in my chest.
“Still think I've got no game?” he asks, winking as he walks backward out of the room.
And then he's gone, and I need to catch my breath.
THIS RESTAURANT SEEMS TO be one of the only things that's stayed the same. Since we moved here, Maddie and I have made it a point to come every Saturday for lunch. They even make sure to keep a pack of crayons for Brenna, who complained that they didn't have any the first time we came.
Maddie sits across the table from us, Googling mine and Colby's names together and scrolling through all of the articles that have come out over the past few weeks.
'I have to admit,” she starts, “that publicist he hired is brilliant. It's like you're slowly easing the public into all this, and most of the feedback is positive. I mean, of course you're always going to have the one delusional girl who thinks she's going to marry Colby, but for the most part, everyone seems happy for him.”
I shrug and take a sip of my water. “That one delusional girl could marry Colby. You never know.”
“Sure, and she could also learn to fly.”
Brenna looks up. “I want to learn how to fly.”
Maddie smiles at her. “Don't we all, Bren. Don't we all.”
My best friend focuses back down on her phone. “I don't know how you don't see how much you want—” I cut her off by kicking her leg under the table and she yelps. “What the hell was that for?”
I use my eyes to gesture toward Brenna. The last thing I need is for her to get some little fantasy in her head of Colby and me getting back together. She may think that's what she wants, but she's only five. She doesn't know what she's talking about.
Mads groans. “A salad. I don't know how you don't see how much you want a salad.”
“Because I don't.”
“Not even if it's covered in delicious dressing and calling your name like a love song?”
Okay, now she's teasing. “No, because sometimes salads aren't good for you and can lead to really bad choices.”
She rolls her eyes. “Well, you can't know if it's a bad choice until you've tried it. And don't bring up seven years ago. This is different.”
Brenna giggles. “I know what you guys are talking about. You’re not tricking me.”
My brows furrow at my little girl. “Oh yeah, smarty pants? And what are we talking about?”
“Maddie wants you to date my dad.”
Maddie snorts, and my shoulders sag. Leave it to Brenna to always figure everything out. Though nothing beats the time she pretended she couldn't spell for an extra three months just so she could pretend she didn't know what I was saying. Meanwhile, she knew everything that came out of my mouth.
“I think she's right,” Brenna says, like she has an opinion on my relationship status. “He's always happy when he's around you.”
“Is he now?” Maddie asks with excessive enthusiasm.
I shake my head. “All right, you two. Enough about my love life.” I focus all my attention on Maddie. “I don’t want Colby. End of story.”
But the way I mentally begged for him to kiss me the other day sits at the forefront of my mind.
I'm a liar.
I'm a fucking liar.
FINALLY FINISHING OUR MEALS, the waitress brings the check, but has an unsure look on her face. She looks between Maddie and I, and when she notices Brenna beside me, she realizes who she's looking for.
“Are you Saige Ambrose?”
I nod. “Yes?”
She smiles politely. “My manager told me to let you know there is a crowd of photographers outside the restaurant doors. We refused