HIM Read Free

summer break.  Doing the usual – relaxing, working – that sort of thing.”  His blue eyes were like crystals; I couldn’t look away.  Something uneasy moved through my body, a sensation I couldn’t place.  Besides this guy looking too amazing for his own good he seemed incredibly calm for just meeting me.  In my past experiences with men they would either be bouncing off the walls, talking a mile a minute or cracking up every three seconds from being so nervous.  But this guy was different, I could see that already.
                  “No, I meant, what are you still doing in my doorway?”  I paused.  “Actually, how do you know Tory?  She never mentioned you before.”  Suspicion consumed me and I felt my body tense . . . against my better judgment?  No.  In my head all men were created equal: Liars.
                  “We were friends for a couple years,” Jensen replied in a chipper tone without skipping a beat.  “Drifted apart then we ran into each other on the beach a few days ago.  She said I should stop by sometime.  So here I am.”  His white smile broadened.  “We were downstairs talking for a while when she told me she bought you the lip-gloss.  She asked if I wouldn’t mind bringing it up to you while she took take care of a few things.  So I did.  And now I’m standing here probably sounding like a complete and utter moron.”  He chuckled and rolled his eyes.
                  Well that explains it.
                  My stance loosened and I let my hands fall to my sides.  Was I contradicting my own thoughts – the thoughts that had kept me going all this year?  I wasn’t going to throw it all away for some random guy standing in my doorway, was I?  Because that was what was going to happen if I didn’t think this man was like the rest: horrible, scary, mean, abusive, demanding, egotistical, a liar.  He had to have at least one of those traits, right?  I mean, we were all human and weren’t perfect.
    Ha.  I guess I just proved my point.
    Despite my efforts to control where my eyes looked I couldn’t help but notice his muscles bulging out of his teal v-neck t-shirt which really made his wide eyes pop.  His skin looked overly smooth – no imperfections of a blemish or scar while his dark brown hair was a bit unkempt, the light from the window giving it a golden-red hue.
                  “Oh,” I said, forcing a chuckle, “okay.”
    “Plus, I couldn’t deny it even if I wanted to – I had to meet you.”
    “What?  Meet me?  Why would you want to do that?”  I cleared my dry throat.
    “For two reasons.”  His mouth pulled into a sultry half-grin.  “One, to see if you’re everything Tory described you to be over the years – funny, sheltered, wise beyond your years, caring and innocently modest in certain ways.”
    “And all of those things are…good?"
    “In my book, yes.”
    “And number two?” I wondered, arching an eyebrow.
                  “If you looked as amazing as you do in your photographs.  And believe me, although you appear stunning in them you look even more beautiful in person.  Those pictures don’t do you justice,” Jensen paused.  “Especially,” he continued, “your graduation photo.  Your eyes didn’t appear nearly as striking and bright as they do now.”
    The left side of my mouth pulled up, half-smiling at his comment.  I suppose for someone who hadn’t known me before now would sense my eyes were bright.  But as I’ve witnessed for months they’ve gradually grown empty, lifeless.  I stared down at my bare feet when I realized I was still in my pajamas.
                  “No need to change if that’s what you’re thinking.”
                  “Ah, you’re funny,” I said sarcastically, keeping my guard up; the one I’d been flawlessly protected by since before I could remember.