Page 59 of Revenge Puck

Aaron: You’re very committed to this imaginary version of me.

Juliette: Someone has to be. Might as well be me.

Irritation prickles at the back of my neck. Yeah, being kind and caring is great. Being naïve enough to think I have a gooey interior is not.

I frown down at her messages.

Juliette Kennedy is smart. Soft-spoken. Probably says sorry when someone bumps intoher…and walking straight into my bear trap with eyes wide open. Shit, she’s not walking—she’s running.

Nearby, a throat clears.

When I look up, her idiot brother is watching me again, only this time, it looks like he has something to say to me. Declan edges closer, towel in his hands.

Aaron: Are you still in the building?

Juliette: Yes, I’m going over some folders for the charitable programs the Ice Wolves participate in. Like the children’s literacy program.

Aaron: Never heard of it.

Juliette: Oh you’d love it. Reading to kids at the library.

Aaron: That sounds awful.

Juliette: LOL

Aaron: I’m being serious. Reading to small children is my worst nightmare

Juliette: Yes, yes, you’re the big bag wolf *eyeroll*

Juliette: So the REAL reason I’m messaging you, now that I know you don’t have a game tonight, is to see if you wanted to hang out. Not like a date, just…hang out. Watch movies or whatever.

Or whatever.

I stare at the messages on my screen.

Slowly lift my eyes to look at her brother.

Declan’s jaw tightens when he realizes I’m grinning in his direction.

Aaron: I could chill and do movies. Or “whatever”

Aaron: Your place or mine?

Juliette: I’m open to either—I didn’t think this all the way through before throwing the idea out there.

Aaron: My place it is, if you’re sure you’re ready to visit the lion’s den.

Juliette: The LION’S den?? Is that bad?

Her back peddling is endearing.

Aaron: Depends.

Juliette: On…?

Aaron: How resilient and brave you actually are.

Three dots disappear and reappear, then disappear again.