Blue Moon Read Free Page A

could ever need. And no matter how much or how little I drink, I always feel sated.
    But still, I know what she’s thinking. And not only because I can read all of her thoughts, but because I used to think the same things about Damen. I used to get really annoyed watching him push his food around and only
pretend
to eat. Until I found out his secret, that is.
    â€œI, um, I grabbed something earlier,” I finally say, trying not to press my lips together, avert my gaze, or cringe—all of my usual dead giveaways. “With Miles and Haven,” I add, hoping it will explain the lack of dirty dishes, even though I know that providingtoo many details is bad, like a flashing red light signaling LIAR STRAIGHT AHEAD ! Not to mention that Sabine being a lawyer, one of her firm’s top litigators, makes her incredibly good at spotting a phony. Though she pretty much saves that particular gift for her professional life. In her private life, she chooses to believe.
    Except for today. Today she’s not buying a word of it. Instead, she just looks at me and says, “I’m worried about you.”
    I swivel around so I’m facing her, hoping to appear as though I’m open, ready to address her concerns, even though I’m pretty much freaked. “I’m fine,” I tell her, nodding and smiling so that she’ll believe it. “Really. My grades are good, I’m getting along with my friends, Damen and I are—” I pause, realizing I’ve never really talked to her about my relationship before, haven’t really defined it, and have pretty much kept it to myself. And the truth is, now that I’ve started, I’m not sure how to finish.
    I mean, referring to ourselves as boyfriend and girlfriend sounds so mundane and inadequate once our pasts, presents, and futures are taken into account, because clearly all of our shared history makes us so much more than that. But still, it’s not like I’m going to publicly proclaim us as eternal partners or soul mates either—the
ick
factor on that is just way too high. And the truth is, I’d really rather not define it at all. At the moment, I’m confused enough as it is. Besides, what would I even tell her? That we’ve loved each other for centuries but still haven’t made it past second base?
    â€œWell, Damen and I are—doing really good,” I finally say, gulping when I realize I said
good
instead of
great,
which may be the first real truth I’ve spoken all day.
    â€œSo he
was
here.” She sets her brown leather briefcase onto the floor and looks at me, both of us fully aware of how easily I fell into her professional litigator’s trap.
    I nod, mentally kicking myself for insisting we hang out here, as opposed to his place like he originally wanted.
    â€œI thought I saw his car whiz past.” She shifts her gaze to my rumpled bed with the haphazard pillows and disheveled duvet, and when she turns back to face me, I can’t help but cringe, especially when I sense what’s about to be said.
    â€œEver.” She sighs. “I’m sorry I’m not around all that much and that we’re unable to spend more time together. And even though it feels like we’re still sort of finding our way with each other, I want you to know that I’m here for you. If you ever need to talk to someone—I’ll listen.”
    I press my lips together and nod, knowing she’s not finished, but hoping that by staying quiet and complacent, it’ll be over with soon.
    â€œBecause even though you probably think I’m too old to understand what you’re going through, I do remember what it was like at your age. How overwhelming it can be with the constant pressure to measure up to models and actresses and other impossible images you see on TV.”
    I swallow hard and avoid her gaze, cautioning myself to not overreact, to not go all overboard with defending myself since