Paper Thin

“Nope. Nothing new.” Sadie set her cell on the table, and then pressed the button at the top to darken the screen.

“I just took a quiz that placed me in the orange personality group,” Jeff said as he continued scrolling through whatever the quiz was telling him about his personality. I arched a brow at the intense expression of concentration twisting his features and the lack of sarcasm he’d spoken with. “It’s been pretty dead on so far. Even got that I’m a perfectionist. Plus, orange happens to be my favorite color.” A smile twisted his lips.

“Interesting,” I muttered, dragging the word out.

Sadie gave me a look I knew meant she wanted me to cut the sarcasm. “I think it’s cool.” She smiled at Jeff. “You’ll have to share it, and I’ll take it later.”

“Okay, sure.” His thumb tapped on the screen of his cell. “Text me with your results whenever you take it. I’m curious to see if we are compatible.”

Dear God, was he pla

“So. What are we doing here?” I glanced around, taking in Double Shot. It was a typical bar—dim lighting, crappy music, and ugly signs for standard beers you already knew the place carried lining the walls, dark wood everywhere. “Are we celebrating me leaving in the morning?”

“Something like that.” Sadie gri

“What did you do, Sadie?” I arched a brow. “If you set me up with someone again, I’m going to hurt you.”

“I didn’t set you up with anyone.” I

Was she calling herself fate now? Did she really think this match was that good? I squared my shoulders, preparing for whoever was about to slip into the seat beside me. Thirty minutes. That was all I was giving the guy no matter who he was, and then I was out of here. I had stuff to pack and a roommate to kill. No one came though.

Seconds ticked away and still nothing. The seat remained empty.

“I’m going to order us a pitcher. Is that okay?” Jeff asked, finally setting his cell down.

“Sure. Thanks,” Sadie cooed.

“What do you want?” Jeff shifted his stare between the two of us. “I prefer light ales, but if you ladies want a darker one, I’d try it I guess.”

While I did enjoy a man who knew what he wanted, there was something a

Strike three. I hated Jeff.

When Jeff stood to order our pitcher of pee, I turned in my seat to glance behind me and see who Sadie had said fate brought my way. I didn’t see anyone. Until I did.

William Pelzer.

The sight of him had my heart pumping hard and fast through my rib cage. It had been months since I’d last seen him. What was he even doing here? He was supposed to be on a mission trip still. A tingle of panic skated through me. Had something happened to him while away that would have forced him to return home early? He looked fine, mouthwatering even.

“Close your mouth, sweetie,” Sadie teased. “Like I said, I didn’t invite anyone for you. All I wanted was for the three of us to have a drink or two together before you leave tomorrow, but it looks like fate may have had something else in mind for you tonight.”

Dear God, I wished she was right, but I knew she wasn’t. Nothing like that would happen. We’d known each other for over a year, and while we got along well and seemed to have loads in common, there seemed to be something always standing in the way of us ever crossing the friendship line.

“He looks good. Tan. Really tan,” Sadie stated.

I watched him as he smiled and talked among the group he was with. He did look tan. I knew why though. He went to Haiti. The last time I talked with him was the day before he left, which was over two months ago.

I continued to stare at him. Helping people in Haiti sure did look good on him. The sun had kissed his skin a thousand times, making him a rich, golden brown and lightening his hair. Stubble now covered his cheeks and chin, giving him a rugged appearance that suited him. Normally, he was clean-shaven and baby-faced. This was a new look for him. A manly look. I loved it.

“You should invite him over to have a drink with us,” Sadie suggested.

I should. I knew I should. We hadn’t seen each other in so long. It would be great to catch up...right before I left. Our timing was off again. Disappointment spread through me.

“It’s not like you’re going to be gone for forever, just a weekend,” Sadie reminded me as though she knew where my thoughts had dipped. “Now might finally be your time together.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” I placed my palms flat against the tabletop and moved to stand. The second I did, a dark-ski

“On second thought, I’m not pla

“That is true.” Sadie was quick to agree. She’d seen the girl get swept into Will’s arms like he’d done so a thousand times. She also knew all about my feelings for him and how the timing had always been off for us. “Where the hell is Jeff with our beer?” She craned her neck to search for him.

“I was wondering the same.” A beer, no matter what kind, sounded good right now.

Will had slipped through my fingers again. Damn it. Why the hell did life enjoy screwing with my heart when it came to him so much? It wasn’t fair.

One whole year. The timing had been off for an entire freaking year.

We’d met in the library. He was studying for an anatomy test. I was working on a research paper for my women’s history class. There was a book I needed on a top shelf. Instead of asking the librarian to get it down for me, I let the stubborn Montgomery gene take over and grabbed an unoccupied chair from his table and pushed it against the bookshelf. As soon as I placed a foot on the chair, he spoke.

“I would have let you borrow my height, if you had asked.”

His husky tone had vibrated through my core, sending goose bumps racing along my body, and I knew right then I wanted him. I climbed onto the seat of the chair, reaching for the book I needed before I risked a glance at him. I could still picture the little smirk twisting his lips when I finally did look at him. It had caused all the breath to leave my lungs at once.

“I can see you’re the independent type who likes to do things for herself.” His smirk morphed into a wide grin.

It had taken so much strength to break our stare and force my fingers to grip the massive book I needed. There was not one part of me that wanted to look away. All I wanted to do was drink in this beautiful guy slouching in his chair, surrounded by books about parts of the human body—parts I had, ones that were on fire from the mere existence of him.

“That’s me.” I clasped the book against my chest as I attempted to make my way down from the chair. “I like how you used the term independent; most just call me stubborn.”