Page 36 of Taking the Pitch
“I’m not your missing piece, Judd.” I’m the mangled puzzle piece that you have to throw away, never getting to complete the puzzle.
“I think you could be.” He gives Bruno one last pat before getting up from the bench and coming to stand in front of me. “Can I touch you?” he asks.
Knowing it’s a bad idea, I nod anyway.
Judd cups my cheek, brushing his thumb back and forth. I close my eyes and give into the touch, releasing a sigh.
One last time.
“What do you feel?” he whispers in the silence of the room.
“You,” I tell him, opening my eyes to look into his.
He huffs a small laugh. “Yes, but what do you feelwhenI touch you?” He tips his chin at me. “Close your eyes again.”
Taking a deep breath, I reach up and grab his wrist with my free hand and close my eyes.
“Tell me what you feel.”
I stand there for a second, trying to figure out what he means when it hits me. My eyes fly open meeting his.
“It’s all quiet, isn’t it? The thoughts, the fear, the anxiety? All the thoughts turning in your brain, driving you crazy are–”
“Quiet,” I finish for him.
He nods.
“How? Why?” I ask, trying to figure out why I didn’t notice this before.
Because you were too busy fighting your feelings to notice.
He shrugs one shoulder. “I don’t know, but I think it’s the same thing my brother Kessler felt with his fiancée when they first met. I asked him how he knew and what we’re feeling is what he described. That and undeniable energy.”
I think back to a few days ago at the library when we shook hands and felt that zap, and then again on the dance floor on Halloween. And now with his hand cupping my face. It’s true, I’ve never felt the way I do with anyone like I do with Judd. But we’ve only known each other for a few days.
That fact pours over me like cold water and my body jolts. Needing to break contact, I step back out of his touch and shake my head. “This is crazy, Judd; we’ve only known each other for what? Six days. I’m not your puzzle piece. I’m not your soulmate. I’m just someone who’s trying to save their library program, and you just happened to be the person who can help me. There can’t be anymore to it.” I call Bruno and turn towards the door.
“Amelia wait–”
I shake my head and keep my pace. “No Judd, I’m sorry, but I can’t be the person you want me to be.”
I exit through the door and to the door leading to the stairwell. Yanking it open, I run up the stairs as fast as my feet will take me, Bruno hot on my heels. Once again, running from my problems.
Me
I think I need to move.
Charlie
Why? What’s wrong with your apartment?
Hazel
Is it because of the HOT baseball daddy?
Me
OMG Eww Hazel, don’t call him daddy. That’s just…no. And Yes, I don’t think I can live in the same building as him anymore.
