Page 64 of Cold As Ice

“She’s a budding artist,” I commented.

“Aren’t all four-year-olds?”

“I really have no idea. My entire experience with kids amounts to my friend’s little brother. And he’s twelve.”

She glanced over at me, those big blues of hers softening.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing. It’s just been a while since I made a new friend.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her we could be more than that, at least, in the physical sense.

There was no reason we couldn’t continue to enjoy each other. It didn’t have to mean more than that. She had a busy life, and so did I.

But I swallowed the words, not wanting to ruin the precarious truce we’d reached.

“I’ll get you some sheets and pillows. The couch isn’t much but—”

“It’s fine. I’ve slept on a hell of a lot worse.”

“Sounds like one story I don’t want to know.”

“Probably not.” I smirked. “Did you have plans for college?”

“I was seventeen, Austin. I had all kinds of plans.” Her demeanor shifted, sadness bleeding in her pretty face. I wanted to hold her, to pull her into my arms and make it all better.

It was an unfamiliar feeling.

One I wasn’t wholly comfortable with.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not unless you want things to go from a little awkward to hella awkward in sixty seconds flat.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Fair enough.”

I wouldn’t push, though, because it sounded like there was a story there. One I probably wasn’t ready to hear.

“It’s late, and I’m tired,” she said, reinforcing her walls. “Make yourself comfortable, and I’ll grab those pillows and blankets.”

She brushed past me, but I grabbed her wrist. “Madi—”

“Don’t Austin, I’m begging you, don’t.” She stared up at me with pain-filled eyes. “God, don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you want to do more than be my friend.”

“Maybe I do.”

The words surprised us both.

“Shit, sorry. That’s not—”

“It’s fine.” Her soft laughter eased the giant fucking knot in my stomach. “We’re both adult enough to not act on our reckless desires.”

“Are you saying that kissing me would be reckless?” My brow lifted, my heart crashing against my chest because she was flirting back with me.

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