Page 18 of All of Him
“Tell me something,” she started.
I braced myself, fully expecting her to bring up something about Garrett or the accident. But she surprised me.
“Why did you come in this bar?”
“I don’t know,” I confessed, her words a fishing line and my response getting stuck on the hook. “You looked upset.”
“My life is awkward,” she said, shrugging.
“I noticed.” I laughed lightly.
Amanda laughed with me, almost embarrassed that she found my words funny. It was the first real moment we’d had that wasn’t filled with awkwardness or about work, and it felt nice. It was refreshing to talk to someone who had the potential to mean something, not just some crazy chick withduck bitestories or a contractor asking about paint colors. Something about Amanda continued to pry me open…slowly.
“Did you have a girlfriend back in Ireland?” she asked.
Quickly, she caught that she’d asked another personal question, but I didn’t mind that one.
“I did, and I ruined it pretty solidly,” I scoffed. “But we shouldn’t talk about my past.”
“Right,” she sighed. “Sorry. I was just curious. You seem like a good guy. I don’t see how you would ruin a relationship.”
“You know nothing about me,” I said, smirking.
My thoughts went to the accident. The car on my arm. Garrett screaming and begging for me to take away the pain. The corners of my mouth fell, and I knew Amanda had caught it.
“There’s something dark in there, isn’t there? You’ve got issues.”
I sat back, appalled but also impressed at what she’d said. But she didn’t apologize like I’d expected either.
She kept going. “You fucked something up, or youthinkyou did, and you moved back here to start over.”
I narrowed my eyes at her, no idea as to how she’d figured me out.
“Yeah, I’ve got you pegged, Noah.”
“In reality, Amanda,” I shot back, feeling exposed, “you’re the one wallowing in self-pity right now over a douchebag who doesn’t deserve to have a single drink with you. I think you need to realize you have some self-worth.” Surprisingly, she didn’t take my head off for that one, but her expression turned serious.
“And so do you, Noah. Now, how about that ride?”
11
Amanda
I KNEW I HADsaid things to Noah I was going to regret in the morning, but I just kept pushing him. Instead of pushing back or telling me to fuck off, like I deserved, he had offered me a ride home. It wasn’t like I was in any state to drive, and taking cabs by myself made me nervous.
Internally, my brain battled with my mouth as Noah drove with the windows down. The cool air was refreshing, almost making me forget I’d agreed to get drinks with Brayden. As much as he annoyed me, he’d been so insistent that I finally said yes. I figured one drink wouldn’t hurt. But once it was time to show up, he ghosted me. I had to admit, I hadn’t thought he wasthatmuch of an ass.
Once Noah got us on the highway, he rolled the windows up and turned on the radio. Unexpectedly, “Chicken Fried” rang softly out in the old truck.
“I left my dad’s CD in the slot,” he explained quietly. “I’ve been listening to it on and off.”
I must have given some kind of clue that I was surprised by his choice of music. Honestly, I had no idea what my face was doing after two old-fashioneds.
“So, you’re not arealcountry guy?”
Noah shrugged.
“It’s okay. Is it sad that I listen to my dead dad’s CDs?”
