a

you do la

continued putting away our groce

u need t

me curious as to what he did. Was he a runner? I stole a peek at his jean-clad legs. I woul

rection. "If you're doing a load of darks, wash this one too. Someo

, he had freaking rivets that dipped into delicious golden skin, trailing all the way down into his jeans. Holy crap! He was built, and he

ere bigger t

ticed it before; in fact, the last magazine cover he was on didn't have the tattoo.

se I'm used to it, but since you don't talk, it almost make

o the sorting piles, my chee

ou just caught

filled the air. "

let me disappea

because of your body - I was j

ded better, rig

, and on my last day, I was so dehydrated I almost died. I cried out for water just as a snake slithered in front of me, and when I loo

the weirdes

Um,

python tattoo. It ended up looking like shit, so I turned it into a full sleeve so that it actually resembled so

th to keep mysel

oulder. "... to laugh... It doesn't mean you like me, just

i:

tared back at his cupboard.

i:

me for." He swiped his keys from the counter. "First day on a new

grossest combo ev

leaned against the counter, his abs flexing at me

i:

ll, I guess we can'

uch high hopes of

come with me, and I can buy you another Starbucks... maybe we can sh

itated over

ice was too sexy

ecause that's what he was. Hollywood through and through, a

d already

ad A

A guy like Lincoln would never be in

i:

*

t Starbucks. I knew he was thankful. Already he was getting odd looks from people. It was in the paper that f

ocery-cart traffic until I reac

cified what b

aid organic, assuming that was

male voice called.

s I turned and came face to

d how I should have looked at that same age... innocent, wide eye

h to move. I prayed to God that I wouldn't be embarrassed or

croakin

fro

ied

sick, huh? That has to suck, not talking.

r? Light bulb! Why hadn't I though

on't you think it's kind of immature t

another figure made i

new girlfriend, my ex-best friend pa

e s

mpliments of he

oks of it, fa

ou." She reache

a ste

ming court and all that. I'm sure you would understand if you a

again. This time a weird mewling noise came out, one I'd never

could be an actress just like your sister? How is she, b

ped a possessive arm around me and pulled me close to his chest. A war raged within me - lean on hi

aned

Starbucks coff

Elliot in the shoulder.

ight smile. "I'm s

blurted. "Old fr

e and squeezed. "I've known Dani here for a w

t red. "Well, she doesn't

ned tightly.

hat was

y?" He kissed the top of my head and sighed. "Anyway,

She jutted h

like an expert. Even I flinched when he haughtily dism

reath as he angrily grabbed the mix

rds member?" th

stared h

wed slowly. "I'll

the receipt and tugged me toward the truc

n't sh

himself against the doo

hru

s then grabbed his pho

publicly shame them b

friend. Both have ex in fron

glanced up, his eyes locki

n my seat and ty

s the qua

a bitter smile. "I don't g

ifferent ways. He loved my dad. I

ived." Lin

what I'm doi

d were a selective mute. I looked it up online." He looked embarrassed. "Beyond that, I don't know your story. But I do know

ut th

th a tingling awareness, almost as if someone had just

at and started the engine. "Jaymeson said you baked.

a solit

nk G

hat w

red in the store, which bothered me, because for the first time since everythi

he'd defended

, almost hurtfully so, when up until no

and ugly love w

ys been

accident had changed me fr