She scoffs. “I don’t need that kind of help.”

I take a deep breath. She’s still not listening. “Abby—”

“If it means so much to you, I’ll think about it,” she cuts me off.

Surprised at her sudden turn, I pause. “Good. I’m glad.”

We hang up and I set the phone down next to me on the chair.

I’m raw. Rung out like an old dish towel that should have been trashed three months ago.

Standing, I turn toward the house, and through the window I can see Jude still on the couch, laughing at the movie. Behind him, through the open doorway, Beast and Reese sit at the kitchen table, books spread out in front of them.

Reese pushes back an errant lock of hair and frowns down at something in front of her.

Our moment in the barn comes rushing back and I shut my eyes.

Is it normal to feel attraction to someone so soon? Maybe it’s because I’ve never spent any time with any other woman that I wasn’t related to.

I can’t be having any kind of feelings for anyone. Right? Isn’t there a thing, like a rebound thing that’s supposed to be happening?

Maybe that’s all it is. Rebound.

Combined with the fact that she is so different from Abby. But not in the way I initially thought.

She’s smart. Way smarter than anyone I’ve ever met. But it’s more than that. She cares about her family. She helped Granny even though she pulled a gun on her and won’t let her stay in her own home.

I try to imagine Abby’s reaction and I know she would have thrown a fit. She’s a little spoiled.

Through the window, Reese points out something to Beast in his notebook. Is he actually talking to her? I doubt it. Yet somehow, she’s found a way to communicate.

Reese isn’t quite like anyone I’ve ever met.

That must be why, last night, when she told me she’d never been kissed, I wanted to be the first one, the only person in this world to cup her delicate face in my hands. I wanted to rub a thumb over her thick bottom lip and test the color, see if it’s as soft as it looks, confirm it with my own mouth.

My teeth grind together.

So many reasons it’s a bad idea, and yet the thought won’t leave me alone.

13

The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.

―Mark Twain

Reese

Monday, I get home early because my last class is canceled. I run into Jude coming down the front sidewalk on his way out.

“Hey, babies. Perfect timing. I need a ride.” He doesn’t seem at all surprised to see me.

“A ride?”

“Can you drive me to a friend’s house? And then maybe you can help me with a little problem. Come on.” He passes me, walking toward my car where I left it parked at the curb. “I’ll explain on the way there.”