Smash Into You by Shelly Crane Read Free Book Online Page A

anything. The waitress came and asked what we wanted to drink and if we were ready. I nodded, not bothering to ask about Marley. "I'll take a sweet tea, the biggest burger you've got, and chili fries. Thanks, darlin'."             
                  She winked. "And you, honey?" she asked Marley.
                  Marley just stared at the table, not even looking at the menu, and said, "A big glass of orange juice, a side of green beans, a side of fruit, and a BLT on wheat, extra tomato and extra bacon, please."
                  The waitress just nodded and left. I stared at the girl across from me. What the hell kinda order was that?
                  "What? Why do you care what I eat?"
                  Had I said that out loud? "Uh...just strange is all."
                  "I like to balance out my meals."
                  We stayed silent until the food came and I watched in stupefied fascination as she picked up her green beans like French fries and ate them with her fingers. Then she did the same with a piece of fruit. Then she did the same to her sandwich, picking the tomato out of the bread and devouring it, licking her fingers.
                  I'd never been so turned on by a slice of tomato before. I clenched my teeth and tried to look away, but then she picked up another green bean and nibbled it. Nibbled it! Even I heard my growl as I leaned back in my seat. My shoulder hit the wood behind me. I cringed and gritted my teeth. "There's a fork there," I said.
                  "I don't use forks."
                  "Got a problem with silver? Are you a child of the moon and I just wasn't aware?"
                  She sneered. "Ha. Freaking. Ha. No, I just...nothing."
                  "What? You can burden me with your secret. I'm never going to see you again anyway."
                  She stared at me. "You're really leaving? Like for good."
                  "I'm really leaving. I have to." I took a monster bite of my burger.
                  She swallowed and blinked. "You're so nonchalant about it. Like it doesn't even matter."
                  "It doesn't. I've done it so many times...I can't even count."
                  She nodded, pensive. "I moved a lot, too, but I was never as happy about it as you are."
                  "I'm not happy about it. It's just something I've always had to do."
                  "All by yourself?" she questioned. She nibbled that green bean...nibbled...
                  "Not always." I gave her a look that said everything. "And no, I don't want to talk about it."
                  "Hmmm..." she mumbled. "She must have been a great girl."
                  I stilled. My eyes found hers. I knew she was probing and I should tell her to screw off, but...I wanted to tell her. I spoke softly, hoping the bitterness in me wasn't going to scare her. "My mom did everything to keep me safe from them...even gave her life."
                  She stopped nibbling and stared. Her eyes began to fill just a little. Just enough to make me see that it was absolutely genuine and she was heartbroken for me.
                  "I'm...so sorry." She shook her head and looked at the table, running her finger over a name carved into the wood. "I know that's lame when people say that, but I don't know what else to say." I started to speak, but she glanced up and my pulse banged in my ears at the look she was giving me. "I get it now. I get why you're so jaded and just push people, you don't let anyone in because you're afraid that by getting attached to you, they'll be dragged down with you."
                  Daggum perceptive girl... "So you believe me now, about being on the run?"
                  "It doesn't really matter,