Excerpt: Just Ice

He stared at her lips and her pierced tongue dancing in time to the beat of her words. It was a pure and effortless attraction that he had to shake.

“I’m sorry,” he said, a tightness building in the back of his head that he just had to scratch. “I really should get home and tidy myself up.”

She was silent.

“I really smell.”

“Oh. Well, ok then.” Her arms drooped a little at the shoulder as she held the two plastic shopping bags.

“Maybe I’ll see you around?” He really wanted to. He meant it so badly. He shouldn’t be leaving at all, but he had to. It was just the way it needed to be.

“Maybe,” she said. She smiled a small smile, and he smiled one back. He made the first move and walked away past her, her already familiar sweet scent filling his nostrils and pulling on his soul. He wanted to turn around. He knew she’d look back. All he had to do was turn, and there she would be, looking back at him. Overcome you fear, Ben. That’s all you have to do. Now, look back.