ainsley

El, you are telling me to run away with a man to become his mistress.""I am telling you to be happy. Even if it lasts only a little while. We must snatch what we can when we have the chance. Life is so very lonely when we don't.

I wanted him to meet Ainsley. She was super important to me. I made my decision. __...I would like that.__ider__ reaction was immediate. He smiled and the dimple appeared. My breath caught. I__ actually invited Rider along to meet Ainsley. I wanted that. Really wanted that, but I had no idea what to do with that.Regardless, excitement hummed through me. Hanging out with Rider and Ainsley was normal. Something a million people probably did every day, because they were actually living life, but it was a first for me__ huge first. It was my best friend and it was the guy...the guy who__ been my best friend and who now, despite everything, felt like something deeper, richer and more intricate, hanging out together.It felt important.

His gaze locked with mine and a slow grin appeared on his face. He didn__ look like he had last night. More like he did every day at school. Worn jeans. A black henley instead of a T-shirt and beat-up sneakers, but goodness, I couldn__ think.Okay. Not true. I could think, but I was thinking things I really had no concept of. I was thinking about those full, slightly curved lips and how they must feel in places...other than my forehead or cheek. I was thinking about his hands and how strong they were and the oddly pleasant calluses on his palms. I was thinking about...about a lot of things__hings that now didn__ feel so wrong since he was actually single.Noticing my near-prone position, Ainsley looked over her shoulder. __h, my good God almighty,_ she murmured. __hat__ him?___es,_ I whispered. That was so him.