Page 93 of See Me

“I told you he wouldn’t drop it.”

“He will if you let me bash his head in.” Luca clenches his fists at his sides.

“You really would, wouldn’t you?” I ask, not sure if I want the answer.

He walks to the kitchen and pulls out two beers from the fridge. “I’ve done a lot worse for a lot less.”

I sit on the couch and pull my feet up underneath me. “To your brother, though?”

A cold beer appears in front of my face and I take it as Luca walks past me to sit on the other end of the couch. “Let’s just say I know how to make it hurt without doing any lasting damage.”

I look over and watch his inked forearm flex as he smashes the beer cap between his fingers.Oh, those fingers and what they can do.I swallow the cool liquid hoping to quell the heat in my cheeks as I peruse his rigid form on the couch. He wasn’t here long before me but he changed into a black t-shirt and sweatpants, and his feet are bare. I suddenly feel the discomfort of my jeans.

“I’m gonna change and then we can watch whatever this is you have cued up on the TV. I’m really done thinking for today.”

He nods as I round the couch and head to my room,hisroom,ourroom, whatever.

Tuesday rolls over and exposes her belly when I turn the lights on and lets out a little squeak.

“Hey, pretty girl. Whatcha doing in here all by yourself?” She purrs and meows as I rub my hand over her fluffy gray belly. “Yeah, he’s a little grouchy. Maybe some vikings bashing skulls will perk him up, huh?” I pull my jeans and work shirt off and step into some yoga pants. I fling this godforsaken bra off the girls and pull on a tank top. “C’mon now. Don’t leave me to deal with him alone.” I scoop up the tiny fluff ball and she skitters to my shoulder. I hiss under her claws and pad quickly to the couch so she releases the death grip on my skin. I sit and reach for my beer as she settles between my crossed legs.

Luca grins over at us. “She likes you.”

I smile and rub her between the ears. “I like her too. I never had a pet growing up. Well, except Edward, but I never got to see him when I wanted.”

“Edward?”

I nod, embarrassed to reveal the fact that I was a spoiled rich girl. As if the nickname, Princess, means he isn’t aware. “My pony.”

“I’m going to skate over the fact that you had a pony, but who names a pony Edward?”

I take a long swill of beer. “Someone who had no one to talk to and her only escape was books. And his coat was white and shimmered in the sun.”

He cocks his head and purses his lips. “I’m still not getting a connection here.”

“Didn’t you ever read Twilight?”

“I wasn’t the library card kinda kid, Princess.” He turns on the couch and pulls a knee up to face me.

“Right. Sorry.” I pick up Tuesday and spin on the couch and rest my back on the arm to face him. “It was a book about vampires. And Edward was the main character. His skin glittered like diamonds in the sun.”

Luca scoffs and shakes his head. “I've read Dracula; they don’t glitter.”

“Maybe Dracula didn’t glitter, but Edward did. And he didn’t steal women in the night and seduce them.”

“So, you prefer your vampires bedazzled and romantic?” He quirks an eyebrow waiting for my response.

“As opposed to tortured and ruthless? Yeah, I suppose I do.”

“Aren’t all vampires tortured though? They all lust for blood and have to fight that primal instinct to kill when they fall in love. Because they always fall for a human.”

A small laugh bubbles up. “Not a library card kid, huh? You seem pretty well versed to me.”

“I read now. The classics. No glittery vampire sissies for me, thanks.”

I rest my head on my fist and study him. “Coffee or tea?”

He looks up, surprised. “Huh?”

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