“What’s wrong is that from the moment you stepped onto this train, you’ve been acting like an ass. I thought those texts and calls meant something. That we shared — You know what? Never mind. Just forget it.” First he abandoned her at Java Hut, and now he was being rude. It proved she meant nothing to him.
“Keeley … that wasn’t …” A frustrated sigh left his lips. “I didn’t mean to be like that. You just … you were dead silent when you saw me. I thought you’d changed your mind about wanting me here so I … yeah.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. “Look, can we start over? That wasn’t how I wanted this trip to start.”
She looked down at her hands. “Me either.”
“I’m sorry for being an ass. Can you forgive me?”
She moved her jacket off the seat. As he sat, she caught a whiff of his cologne — a mixture of wood and Old Spice. He smelled good. The dangerous kind of good that could get a girl in trouble.
“You still have my ticket, right? You better not have given it to Randy.”
“It’s my ticket, not yours. And no, I didn’t give it to him. He already has a ticket. He’s at Barnett right now.” She hesitated. Then added, “He’s meeting me at the station.”
Talon scowled. “He’s meeting us at the station. Why is he coming? I thought you guys were over.”
Was that jealousy in his voice? “I didn’t think you were going to show up and I didn’t want to go on the tour alone.”
“So are you guys together or what?”
Definitely jealousy. “I wouldn’t be, you know,” — flirting, she thought — “if I was with someone.”
Talon leaned in so their shoulders brushed. His gaze latched on to hers. “And just so you know, I wouldn’t be, you know, if I was with someone either.”
Was he really saying what she thought he was saying? His eyes dropped to her lips, and darkened. He drew closer, but suddenly Keeley’s stomach growled. Loudly.
“Hungry?” he said.
Keeley turned her head away, not wanting him to see her reddening cheeks. Her stomach rumbled again like she was starving.
Talon stood up and reached above, where the luggage racks were. He pulled down a duffel. “My mom packed me the usual peanut butter and jelly. That’s all my dad and I allow her to make. She’s a disaster in the kitchen. Last time she tried microwaving, she ended up breaking the thing.”
As he continued searching in his bag, something yellow caught her attention. Keeley leaned forward to get a better look inside. “Are those Peeps?” She pulled his bag onto her lap to take a closer look. “How many did you bring?”
Talon squeezed his eyes shut, looking slightly embarrassed. “Just six or seven packs.”
Six or seven? Was he crazy? “You know we’re only staying for two days, right?”
He stuffed a whole Peep in his mouth. His expression softened as he chewed and swallowed. He picked up another one. “I told you they were the greatest invention ever.”
That phone call in Nicky’s bathroom seemed like a lifetime ago. “They are not. If you were stuck on a desert island —”
“Yes, I would absolutely bring Peeps. A truckload of them. You could leave them out so they attract bugs and then use the bugs as bait for fish. See? Delicious and useful. Your turn. What would you bring?”
“Um … I’d bring that British dude on TV who survives in the wilderness.”
Eyes narrowing. “You want to bring him for his looks.”
“That’s not the only reason, but yes, his hotness is a factor.” What girl wouldn’t want to be stuck on a desert island with a man built like a model?
“He’s not that hot. And if you’re basing it off looks, why am I not a choice? I would bring you to the island.”
A flutter in her stomach. “Is that so?”
“Of course!” He winked. “Who else keeps my ego in check? Okay, if you could have any superpower, what would it be?”
That was easy. “Flying. But no capes. Those things are a hazard.”
“Flying would be my top choice, too, but I think it’d be cool to be immortal. You could do all sorts of crazy things.”
“Like what?”
“Like free-fall from an airplane or go running with bulls. What would you do if you were immortal?”
Four hours later, they were still talking.
“You’re wrong. Frodo is the hero,” Talon argued. “He carried the ring to Mordor. He’s the one who saved Middle Earth.”
“Yeah, but he couldn’t have made it without Sam. He’s the true hero. Frodo tried to leave Sam behind and Sam still helped.”
“It was an act of sacrifice!”
Keeley recognized that tone. It was his I’m-right-to-the-bitter-end tone. “Another stalemate.”
“The zombie-apocalypse thing wasn’t a stalemate. I’m right. A sword would be the best weapon.”
“Swords are heavy! It’d slow you down and then you’d get eaten.”
“But it’s a sword!”
The look on his face was adorable and she couldn’t help but pat his cheek. “Fine. You can have the sword, but I get Sam.”
She was amazed at how comfortable she was with him. Reaching up and touching his cheek. She never would have done that with anyone else. What was it about him that made her so forward? Maybe it was because he was forward, too. He found ways to touch her arm and hands and would always brush her hair off her face. Even when she was looking out the window, he’d leaned forward so his lips were by her ear. Any time he said something, his breath would tickle her neck. Every part of her was aware of him at all times. It was a bit unsettling.
Keeley was having so much fun she didn’t realize when the train pulled into the station. She saw Randy immediately, his red-and-white striped shirt making him stand out in the crowd.
“Seriously?” Talon whispered from behind. He was so close she could feel his body heat. “He looks like he escaped from the pages of Where’s Waldo? How long did you date this clown?”
Grabbing his hand, she gave it a quick squeeze. “I get the situation is weird, but please act civil. For me.” He squeezed back, but didn’t let her hand go. She didn’t mind. His hand felt big. Strong. She felt safe with him.
When they reached Randy, she made quick introductions. “Do you mind giving Talon a ride, too?” She should have texted and asked him, but she’d been preoccupied.
Randy looked surprised, but took it in stride. “No problem. I’m parked on the street. You’re the guy from Keeley’s phone, right?”
Keeley braced herself when Talon gave Randy a long look, but then he blew out a breath and said, “That’s me.”
When Randy’s back was turned, she shot him a smile. He’d done as she asked. That had to mean something, right?
“And this statue was created to honor our founding fathers who chartered the school in 1852,” the tour guide said. “If you’ll notice there’s a small —”
Keeley rolled her eyes. She’d rather be on that desert island than here.
“Are you as bored as I am?” Talon whispered.
“Tears will be pouring down my face any second,” she whispered back.