“You still with your floozy girlfriend?” Ah, there is was. The elephant in the car…He gave her an incredulous look. “Obviously not.”She smacked him on his arm. “Don’t look at me like I asked a stupid question. Because it not a stupid question at all, and you damn well know it.”“Fine.”“So you broke up with her?”“Yes,” he said sharply.“Way to find your balls, man,” Ada congratulated him and sat back in her seat.”

“I shot him an unimpressed look. “Do you really think you’ll win me over by having sex with me?”He scratched at the side of his chin. “Well, they say the way to a woman’s heart is through her vagina.”

“I hope next time you feel – well, retarded – about yourself, you’ll remember that I think you’re…”I looked up into his eyes. They were drunk, yes, but still absolutely mesmerizing.He didn’t finish his sentence. Instead he said, “Sorry I licked your face.”

“I certainly ain’t saying it’s impossible. But Ada, look at Perry. Do you think that’s what is happening?”She rolled her eyes and slammed the bat against her palm. “Holy fuck, yes, you retard! You have some inbreeding going down there in the South? Is that what’s wrong with you?”

“Sorry,” he said, not sounding very sorry at all. “I… well, nevermind.”“Nevermind?” I couldn’t help but sneer. “You just broke into my uncle’s lighthouse. Don’t you tell me to nevermind.”

“That is what I thought of you, Ellie. Heartless, reckless, selfish, and cruel."He was back to shooting me when my armor was down. I turned my face away from him, not wanting to let him see the hurt in my eyes. He reached up and put his fingers under my chin, bringing my face forward again, forcing me to look at him."Beautiful, sad, wounded, and lost," he continued. "A freak, a work of art, a liar, and a lover."His gaze was starting to eat away at my insides. Razor-blade butterflies whirled in my heart."I hate you, Ellie Watt," he whispered, lips coming closer to mine, "because I still love you after all these years.”

“His eyes shone playfully, turning his irises a deep cocoa. "That's why I like you, you're a challenge."I folded my arms and leaned back on one leg. "Oh, so that's why...""Well, that and your ass."My cheeks flamed. "Thanks.""And your breasts.""Got it.""And what's between your-""Dex," I warned, cutting him off.”