I folded my arms, giving him a pointed look. “If you’re thinking I’m going to say you, you’re out of your mind.”
He laughed. “A guy can hope.”
He was totally flirting with me. Right?
I didn’t have much experience with flirting. None, actually. But I didn’t think I was misreading him. At least … I didn’t think so.
The only thing that made me second-guess myself was that I was me—and he was him. Why would he be interested in someone who had been flat-out rude to him at the library, awkward at the coffee shop, and was now actively shutting down any possible advances? Maybe this was a game to him. Playing the charming, flirty guy, just to get a reaction out of the quiet, quirky girl.
“Well, I’m going to head home.” I pointed over my shoulder.
“I’m glad I ran into you,” he said, genuine enough that my theory of a game started to feel shaky. “Hopefully I’ll see you again at the library.”
That jolted me out of whatever daze I’d been in. “Don’t you dare.” I did not need him showing up at my secret library spot.
He gave me a mischievous grin. “Oh, I dare.” Hewinked and walked away, leaving me staring after him, mouth slightly agape.
What alternate universe had I just landed in?
I shook my head as I resumed my walk, trying to will my racing thoughts into submission. My cheeks still burned, and every time I replayed that grin, that wink, it was like I’d been hit by a ton of bricks.
He was attractive, yes. Confident, playful, and far too self-assured for someone like me to handle. But it wasn’t just that. It was the way he looked at me—as if I actually mattered, as if the awkward, fumbling, socially clueless version of me was somehow enough.
Ugh.Stop analyzing.
But I couldn’t stop. My mind ran in loops: the library, the coffee shop, the posters, the video … even the way he’d said my name.Livvi.It had sent shivers down my spine. I hadn’t even realized someone could have that kind of effect on me without me ever actually talking to them in a normal conversation.
And yet, the logical side of me—the side my parents had trained to value practicality, work ethic, and control—kept whispering:He’s Talon Everhart. Popular, cocky, out of your league. This will not end well.
Still, even with my rational mind sounding alarms, I couldn’t deny a spark of curiosity. Or maybe something more. Something unsettling.
I shook my head again and pulled my keys out of my bag.Focus. Get home. Take a deep breath. Remind yourself this is just … another weird random encounter.
But even as I unlocked my apartment door, I knew the thought of him would linger long after I stepped inside. And that scared me enough to shake my head in hopes that would erase any thoughts of that tempting smile of his.
I’d barely stepped inside when my phone buzzed in my back pocket. Setting my bag down, I pulled it out, assuming Cali had already watched Talon’s message and was hysterically responding.
But instead, a notification from BookPad lit up the screen: a new message fromTheWriteGuy.
We’d been talking throughout the day, and the more we talked, the more I liked him. He was funny and kind, confident but genuine, and—most importantly—he seemed to actually enjoy talking to me.
TheWriteGuy
How weird would it be if I changed Raelle’s eye color to hazel?
ReadToLiv
Pretty weird, since you’ve mentioned her green eyes enough that people would notice if you randomly changed them.
TheWriteGuy
I wouldn’t do it randomly. I’m thinking something will happen where some type of magic has a physical effect on her, like her eye color changing is a lasting effect of what she went through.
Ooh. I liked that. And maybe I was biased—Raelle having hazel eyes felt appealing because … well, my eyes were hazel too.
ReadToLiv
That sounds intriguing. I like it.