Finally My Happy Ending (Meant for Me Book 3) by Brooke St. James Page A

and I felt annoyed as I watched her approach wearing a bright smile.
    "Hey, I was gonna grab something to drink," she said, looking at Brock. "Do you want anything?"
    "No thanks," he said. "I'm gonna step outside with Trish for a minute. I have to grab something out of her car. I'll come back to the table when we're done."
    Her expression shifted to one of surprise. "Oh, okay," she said. She looked at me as if it was the first time she noticed I was standing there, and then she looked back at Brock. "I'll see you in a minute."
    The front door was close by, and I followed Brock to it feeling a bit like I was in a dream.
    "What are you going to grab out of my car?" I asked.
    "That thing you bought me, remember?"
    He held the door open for me to walk out, and I stepped out into the brisk night. We began walking slowly towards the end of the building.
    "I don't have it with me," I said. "And I didn't even drive my car. I rode with Ryan."
    "Who's Ryan?"
    "You know my roommate, Ryan," I said. "You guys met before."
    "You came here with him?"
    "I go just about everywhere with him," I said.
    He didn't say anything else, and we slowed to a stop as we approached the edge of the building. He leaned against the wall and turned to face me. I hugged myself and began running my hands up and down my upper arms in an attempt to warm up.
    "I'm sorry for dragging you out here," he said. "I just wanted some fresh air."
    "Are you still having problems with crowds or whatever?"
    "Not too bad," he said. "I have my moments, but they're manageable."
    "Are you having fun with Chelsea?" I wasn't sure why I asked it. I guess I wanted him to say he was having a terrible time.
    He shrugged. "She's a nice girl."
    "Pretty too," I added, like the big dork I was. I wanted to make it seem like I didn't care, and that was probably totally obvious. I had to change the subject. I held my hand out proudly so he could notice that I was wearing my grandmother's ring.
    "It looks good," he said.
    "It's better than it was before I lost it. I think whomever had it got it cleaned and sized. It fits me better now."
    "That's a bonus I guess."
    I absentmindedly rubbed my arms again, trying to warm up. Before I knew what was happening, Brock reached both hands out to rub them for me. His objective was only to rub my arms, but I misunderstood and thought he was pulling me in for a hug. I stepped close to him, but sort of stumbled when I realized I had been mistaken about his intentions.
    I played it off by looking up at him with a smile. I had on heels, and he was still taller than me. I was in close proximity to his face, and gazed helplessly at it. He had dark stubble on his cheeks and jaw and above his upper lip. I couldn't stop staring at him.
    "You trying to hug me?" he asked.
    I giggled. "No, I thought you were trying to hug me."
    "I would if I didn't think you hated me."
    I playfully scowled at him through narrowed eyes as I made 'humph' in frustration. "You're never gonna let me live that down, are you?"
    He smiled. "I'm just messing with you. I don't think you hate me."
    "Good, because I don't."
    Our eyes locked. His seemed as black as midnight, and I stared into the depths of them.
    "You don't?" he asked.
    What was the question? Oh yeah, do I hate him. "No, I don't," I said " Not even a little bit."
    I knew it was the wrong thing to do, but I couldn't stop myself from reaching out to touch his face. I put my hand right on his cheek with my fingertips extending toward the cut on his eyebrow. And, of course, Shane Rollins walked out the door the moment I did it and caught me in the act. I pulled my hand off of his face like it was a hot stove and stepped backward.
    "Oh, hey, Trish. I didn't know you guys were…" Shane trailed off and looked at Brock. "Chelsea said you looked a little pale when you came out here, so I thought I'd come check on you." Shane stared back and forth between us, and I could tell he was genuinely trying to make sure his brother was okay—like