Chapter 168

“And you just now decided to do something about it? Out of the blue,” Nick drawled, skepticism dripping from his tone like condensation from one of those cups of cold lemonade.

“I know what you’re getting at, and so what?” She threw her hands up between them. “Your brother isn’t the reason.

Why can’t this be about me?” she demanded, frustrated and more than a little annoyed. “You know what, forget it. You wouldn’t understand.”

He frowned, slowly loosening his arms and lowering them to his sides. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,”

He studied her, that gaze roaming her face so intently she stifled the urge to duck her head, hide from him. And that wasn’t them. They didn’t hide anything from each other. Something weird was definitely happening between them. “I think you're perfect the way you are, Michelle.” He finally said,

“Spoken like a true friend.” She shook her head, briefly smiling. Something bleak, almost...desolate fl