She lures me closer without trying. Her scent, her warmth, her softness, her toughness entices me to lean into her. The feeling of last night, the want, rushes through me again. My hands find her waist, and I imprint my shape into hers against the wall.
“Grip, no.” Her breath shivers over her lips, and she turns her head away from me.
“Why not?” I run my nose up and down her neck until she shudders under me. Her body is honest with me even when she hides the truth. I want her truth. I have to know.
She wriggles free, stepping away and pacing a tight circuit in the corridor.
“Bristol, about last night—”
“The other song, ‘Bruise,’” she cuts in, stopping her pacing to face me. “It’s fantastic.”
Not-so-deft change of topic. I’m not sure if it was because she was genuinely interested in the song or afraid of what I would say next.
“Thank you.” I slip a fist into my pocket and lean against the wall to watch her
“And your cousin Chaz who was shot by his brother, the cop.” Her eyes fall to my left forearm where Chaz’s name is inked into the skin. “They’re Jade’s brothers?”
“Yeah.”
“I can’t imagine what you described. When I think about that happening, you getting stopped like that over and over again . . .”
Bristol bites into her bottom lip. She turns her head to stare at me, sadness saturating her eyes. “Can you just tell me when all my privilege makes me clueless?”
Damn her. Every time I think I might be able to get past this girl, move on to someone who will actually tell me how she feels, she does this. Shows the tender under all that tough and reminds me why not one day has gone by in eight years when she hasn’t at least crossed my mind.
“I can do that,” I promise quietly.
“Good, I—”
“There you are. I was looking for you guys.” Rhyson strides down the hall toward us. “You both bailed on the meeting. What gives?”
“Sorry. You’re right,” Bristol says, eyes cool again when she looks at me. “I have too much to do to be standing around. Gotta go. Grip, I’ll email you about the Target spot. Should be later this week.”
I just nod and watch as she walks away.
“What’s wrong with her?” Rhyson asks.
“What’s wrong is your timing is shit,” I snap.
I love Rhys, but this is one time I want to strangle him.
“What’s crawled up your ass?” Rhyson frowns and starts walking. “Can you tell me while we walk? I don’t want to be late for Kai’s appointment.”
“Sure.” I match my long stride to his. “I wish you’d checked with me before you played that song.”
“Everyone loved it.” He jabs the down button for the elevator several times.
“Not everyone.” I give him a wry smile. “You do know that doesn’t make the elevator come any faster, right?”
“Maybe we should take the st—”
The ding of the elevator doors opening shoots down that suggestion.
“Who didn’t like it?” he asks as we board.
“Bristol didn’t.”
“What?” He frowns over eyes just like his twin sister’s. “Why would Bris not like it?”