Read All We See & Seem (Timber Wolves) for Free Online

every Friday after Talley’s last class they made the three hour drive to Nashville to see Charlie. While other college students tested their alcohol tolerance, Jase and Talley fastidiously watched monitors and checked progress reports. When their classmates were crashing in the bed of their latest one night stand, they took turns sleeping in the medieval torture device the hospital tried to pass off as a recliner.
    Jase folded up his second slice of pizza and devoured half of it in one bite. “Quit trying to defend the weirdo, Tal,” he said around a mouthful of greasy goodness. When Talley didn’t immediately jump to Joshua’s aide, he glanced over at her for the first time since she’d entered the room. Not looking at Talley was a new habit of his, and when his eyes found her, he was reminded why. Just one glance in her direction and unwelcome images flashed in his head…
    Talley’s back pressed against the wall, her too-blue eyes widening with pleasure as he covered her mouth with his.
    Talley leaning over him close enough that her shoulder length black hair brushes his cheek as she licks her kiss-swollen lips.
    Talley gasping out his name as he nibbles the shell of her ear.
    Not that any of those things had ever or would ever happen. Jase felt like a molester for even thinking about it, but he just couldn’t stop the scenes from playing through his head over and over again, especially when she was standing in front of him in a shirt that matched her eyes and showed off a tempting glimpse of cleavage. Revealing clothing wasn’t the norm for her, nor was the make-up lining her eyes and drawing attention to her perfectly shaped lips.
    “Why are you dressed up?” It came out sounding a little choked. Jase grabbed a can of soda and guzzled, hoping the fizzy goodness would dislodge the awkward lodged in his throat.
    Talley was oblivious to his discomfort since she was completely and totally focused on the slice of pizza in her hand. “I’m not dressed up.”
    “You’re wearing heels, Tal.”
    “Lots of girls wear heels. You wear heels.”
    Jase’s face flushed red even though it was an old joke between friends. Some humiliations refuse to die no matter how much time passes.
    “You aren’t one of those heel-wearing girls, and you know it,” he said.
    Talley pushed her hair behind her ear before telling the floor, “I have a date.”
    “I’m sorry. A what?”
    Clear blue eyes met his own. “A date. I’m going to get coffee at eight.”
    “Coffee?”
    “Coffee. A drink made from filtering water through crushed beans. Usually served warm. I like mine with milk and caramel syrup.”
    “I know what coffee is,” Jase said through clenched teeth. “Who on earth is taking you out for coffee?”
    “Really, Jase, what does—”
    “Who?” It shouldn’t have mattered. She was, after all, eighteen years old and in no way his, but he had to know. He needed a name so that he could hunt the guy down and break all of his fingers should he attempt to touch her.
    “Why do you care?”
    “A name, Talley.”
    “Walker,” she said. “Walker Helkamp.”
    It took Jase a minute to realize why the name sounded familiar.
    “The pup from that tiny pack down in Arizona? He’s still in town? And you’re going out with him?”
    Talley’s fingers went to her hair. “Don’t have an aneurysm. It’s just coffee.”
    “You were supposed to tell him to leave.”
    She snagged a strand of shiny black hair and began twirling it around her finger. Jase had known Talley his entire life and could clearly remember her doing the exact same thing when she would get nervous as a five year old. It looked odd now, though, since she’d had nearly a foot of hair cut off at the beginning of the semester. The shorter style suited her, framing her face in a way that made it impossible not to notice how her red lips and blue eyes contrasted with its dark color.
    “Was he mean to you?” Jase asked when the urge to dig his own hands