Chapter 130
(45)
Granted, our competition turns out to be a group of seventh graders having a birthday party, but we wipe the floor with them nonetheless, So much so that the birthday boy, Evan, gets so frustrated, he drops a bowling ball on his leg, causing him to scream so loud, the foundations of the bowling alley shake.
Peter and I hightail it out of there, laughing our asses off.
“Oh my God,” I wheeze, doubled over, my hands bracing on my knees, “I feel awful!”
Peter chortles. “He still has a life of disappointments ahead of him; it’s better to let him learn young.”
“That is not a good philosophy, Peter. Is that what you intend to teach your children?”
He shrugs. “Then I can leave the teaching to you. I’ll be the fun dad,”
My laughter dies in my throat. There it is again.
Peter cocks his head, his eyes tracking me. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head, my ponytail whipping my cheeks. “Yeah, it’s just “I wipe my suddenly damp hands on my dress. “You keep saying… things.”
He raises a brow. “About marriage and kids.”
He’s so blunt. I flush.
“It’s my roundabout, evasive way of saying I like you.”
My heart jerks. My lips part, but no words come out.
Peter takes a tentative step forward. He reaches for me–but then drops his hand. Tucks them in his pocket instead.
“When my parents brought up the idea of this competition, I was pissed. It made no sense to me, and I had no intention of cooperating the way they wanted me to.”
i swallow. “And now?”
“I’m an adrenaline junkie, Eliza. If I’m not doing something exciting, I get too in my head, and it’s a dark place I hate.”
I hold my breath. It’s the first real insight I’ve ever gotten into Peter Ashford.
“With you, it feels like I’m constantly high, like you’re a never–ending fix.”
My heartbeat accelerates. He’s the adrenaline shot. He’s the one who makes me feel high.
“You excite me, Eliza, in a way no one ever has.”
“But-“I swallow, a vine of fear creeping up my spine. “It’s because I compete with you. April sald you like challenges. If you take all that
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Chapter 130
away…” I’m just boring old Eliza. Shy, aloof, mild.
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45
Finally, he takes my hand. “We’re not competing right now,” he says, his voice dropping several octaves. “And yet, my heart feels like it’s about to combust in my chest.”
He can’t be serious. He can’t really mean-
Peter presses my hand to his chest, and I gasp softly. Underneath my palm, his heart beats like an industrial–strength piston.
His other hand snakes around my waist, pulling me in, and my heart rate matches his.
The hand pressing my hand to his chest lifts, but my palm stays pressed against him. He takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting my head up to him.
“I like you, Eliza,” he says softly.
“I…me too,” I whisper.
He smiles, his thumb brushing my lip. “Good.”
Then, just as I think he’s going to kiss me and finally kill me with the surge of emotions welling up in me, his eyes flicker to something above my head.
His lips twitch. “We should leave.”
1 turn in the direction he’s staring at, and giddy, incredulous laughter falls from my lips.
Barreling down the road, blaring into the night, is an ambulance.
Although I want to feel bad for poor Evan and his damaged foot and ruined birthday, as Peter and I dive for his car, all I can feel is giddy, lightheaded happiness.
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17:12 Fri, Oct 10 B
…
Win
“This is trespassing.”
