We reach the top of the drive. Below, the road is unplowed,
while the snow continues to fall in heavy wet flakes.
“Parking’s gonna be crazy downtown. You wanna walk?” he
asks.
My eyes brush the white pine across the street. “Definitely.”
Hardly a scar shows in its thick trunk, but scars are
strange things.
We walk in silence until I can’t hold my question in any
longer. “Why are you surprised Jac and I are still together?”
His shoulder twitches with a subtle shrug. “Body language.
The way you look—or don’t look—at each other. The way you never stand
close or touch.”
I’ve kept my situation with Jac secret, but obviously Marek’s
more observant than most. It hadn’t occurred to me the truth might’ve slipped
into the open another way. “Have you studied people’s body language a lot?”
A quiet laugh rumbles from his chest. “No. Just yours.” The
rumble cuts short, and he clears his throat.
My foot lands unevenly and slides over an icy patch. Marek’s
hand shoots out and grabs my elbow.
Startled, I meet his gaze and swallow. “How come just mine?”
His grip loosens, but he doesn’t let go. “Guess it’s tough
not to pay attention to the smartest girl in school.” He looks uncomfortable
until a half-smile pulls up his lips. “Though wearing heels might not have been
the smartest choice for a hike.”
“They’re usually pretty good in snow,” I murmur.
He clears his throat again. “You’ll have to be careful is
all.” His gloved hand slides down my forearm and wraps around my fingers.
My lips part as my mind back flips to Jac’s departure, to
his kiss. A passionate move that suggested things were far from over for him,
but they’ve been over for me for a long time.
My conscience tells me I shouldn’t encourage Marek
until Jac and I come clean, but my desire has other ideas, and I find myself
gripping Marek’s hand tighter.
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