Page 53 of Backslide
A police officer already? Oh no! I’m high! Oh, wait. It’s legal. It is legal, right?
My heart pounding, I peek one eye open to find Noah standing in front of me in place of a cop, all tall and smug and not at all sweaty.
He only glistens.
Fucker.
“Oh. It’s just you,” I exhale, relieved despite myself.
“Not the most flattering take, but okay yeah fine,” he says, toggling his head. “Just me. More importantly, what are you doing?”
“Nothing.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Really? I could have sworn you were leaning against a building, talking to yourself again.”
“I was meditating,” I insist. “You’re not evolved enough to understand.”
“No, I get it. You’re at one with the facade.”
“With all of Planet Earth.”
“Really? Even with me?”
At that, I open my other eye. “No. Not with you. Only humanity.”
He rolls his eyes. Looks me over, head to toe, which I donotfeel like a laser scanning me.
“You look hot,” he says, finally.
And I get a flash of heat between my legs. “Th-thanks,” I stumble.
“No. I mean, sure. You look hot that way too. You always do,” he says, now a bit flustered, his eyes glancing off and skittering away from my falling top. “But I meant hot like temperature. From the sun. Which I know you hate. Are you okay?”
Dammit. Why does this man know me so well? Have I really barely changed in twenty-some-odd years?
I don’t have the will to fight it. I must confess.
“I’msohot,” I admit, letting myself droop. “And not at all in the good way—evenIknow that. Look at me!” I lift my hair up off my neck and lean my head back. “And I can’t get water. Because I’m too scared to try to use Apple Pay right now because what if I can’t scan it correctly because I’m… you know.”
“Too high?”
I scowl. “Whatever.”
His eyes say I told you so, but his lips—full and soft in a way Idon’tnotice—say, “Come with me.”
“No.”
“Nell.”
“Eleanor to you.”
“Eleanor. Fine. C’mon.”
“Why?”
“Because I can help you.”
I shake my head. “Never go to the second location. It’s the kiss of death.”
