QUOTE : I nod to Boyd to follow me towards Sophie’s room. Her room is only a few doors down from the elevator, but it feels like a really long walk with Boyd behind me. His shoes click against the linoleum floor while mine make the occasional squeak. Am I breathing weirdly? I think I’m breathing weirdly. I wonder how ridiculous these leggings look from behind. I remind myself to look in the mirror when I get home just so I have a clear mental image of this moment to torment myself with.<br /><br /> “Is this going to be our thing now?” he asks.<br /><br /> “Donuts?” I ask, confused, glancing at him behind me.<br /><br /> His eyes move to my leggings-covered ass and he laughs. “No, awkward meetings.”<br /><br /> “Why are you dressed like that?” I blurt out, then slap my hand over my mouth.<br /><br /> “Excuse me?” he replies, brows raised.<br /><br /> “Nothing.”<br /><br /> “No, I think you had a question about my clothing?” he says, glancing down at his suit and then back to me. He takes a moment to run his eyes over my donut leggings before meeting my eyes.<br /><br /> “I teach the second grade!” I protest, in defense.<br /><br /> “I catch criminals,” he retorts. “What’s wrong with my suit?”<br /><br /> “The federal government cannot be paying you enough to dress like James Bond.”<br /><br /> “So you like the way I look,” he clarifies with a confident smirk.<br /><br /> “Obviously,” I say, then catch myself and add a sarcastic, “Not,” to the end. What is wrong with me? Why am I behaving like a bitch? If I had any idea what I was doing with men I’d be doing it right now, not insulting him. I pause in front of Sophie’s door and turn to him. “Thank you for going along with me back there,” I say, referring to my fib to Everly about not having met him previously. “I love Everly, but she’s a little…” I trail off.<br /><br /> “Nuts. The girl is nuts,” he says. “But it’s fine.