Page 5 of Patrick

With a shaky smile, she pulls my coat closer around her. “The rumors are all true.”

“Yeah?” I have no idea what she’s saying. Everything in me feels abandoned, like a viscous vacuum sucked away all the sweet euphoria, all the excitement, and all my brain power. Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I hunch against the cold wind, blocking it for her as I stare like she’s in another dimension, a different life, a different place, and if I tried to reach out and touch her right now, she’d disappear. Like in my dreams.

“You are a really, really good kisser.” She tries for a real smile.

Her words are like a slap back to reality, where I am a really good kisser and I kiss a lot of girls, working hard for that reputation. Working hard to find a kiss that feels like… kissing Fifi. Except Sofia Rossi is the one girl who stands firmly in the no-kissing zone.

And now I’m waiting for my penalty.

“Let’s go.” I’m getting colder by the second, but no way am I letting her know that.

She gives me a thoughtful look, the kind that goes beyond the surface, and I look away.

“You’re cold.” She starts to shake off my jacket.

“No.” I shove it back on her shoulders. “Keep it. You’re not used to the bike. I am.”

Not waiting for a response, I take her hand, clenching my jaw against the electricity of the contact, and lead her back over the rocks, without looking at her once.

“Is something wrong?” she asks when we get back to the bike and I grab my helmet.

“What makes you ask that? Could it be that you’re a Rossi and I’m a Jennings and your brother Frank wants to kill me for touching you and your father, well, let’s hope he never finds out I… we…” I wave a hand.

“I wouldn’t let that happen, Trick. You know that⁠—”

I scoff-laugh. “You’re not all-powerful, Fifi.” I allow myself to stare at her face now, into those hazel pools of empathy, eyes so deep and kind, I need to make fists to stop myself from taking her back into my arms.

“No, but I’m my own person.”

“Maybe someday you will be, but not today.” My words echo with finality, and after a blink, she nods in agreement.

“You’re right.” I detect a strangled note in her voice as she looks away. Then she waves a hand as if she’s pushing away my concern, knowing it’s there even though I haven’t moved a muscle.

“So let’s go then.”

I hand her the helmet and watch her put it on.

“Why don’t you drive a car?” she asks as she buckles the strap under her chin.

“A motorcycle is cheaper.” I don’t mean for my words to sound harsh, but she flinches at the hard wall of my words, one of the many walls that divide us.

But she shakes it off, arching a brow, surprising me. “I like it. It’s you, exciting and fast and practical and crazy all at once.”

I stare at her, silent in the face of her insightful words.

“In fact, I’d love another ride sometime soon.” Her smile is part sassy, part hopeful.

Shit. Sucking in a bracing gust of salt air, I shake my head. “I shouldn’t have kissed you, Fifi. It doesn’t change anything. Our families are still enemies.”

“So what? I’m not going to let an old family grudge rule my life. Are you?” Her hands go to her hips, and her chin tilts up until her meaningful stare is aimed at me like a laser.

If I didn’t make it my business to always appear cool, my eyes would have popped at her rebellious challenge. I take my time with my answer, watching the sparks in her eyes and taking care I don’t catch fire.

I shrug. “Easy to say, but I’m fond of my family, old grudge, warts and all, and the last thing I want to do is alienate them.”

She sighs and drops her eyes, her hands falling from her hips. “It’s not that I don’t love my family,” she murmurs.

“Look, Feef, I’m already out on a limb. I should be staying home after graduation to help with the family business, but…” I drag a hand through my hair rather than reach out and touch her. I want to do it badly. “Instead, I’m going to college to play hockey.”