The Girl of Diamonds and Rust (The Half Shell Series Book 3) Read Online Free

turn to talk and I didn’t.
    I flush and say quickly, “Yep, you are Mr. Next-Big-Thing. I saw you on TV a few days ago, and that’s what the interviewer said before they cut away, that the buzz is you’re definitely going to be the next big thing.”
    Neil gives me a pained, sweetly exasperated look. “That’s Ernie Levine’s publicity machine. You know how managers are. It’s just bullshit, Chrissie. I’m more like Mr. broke, tired, glad to be off the road, and really glad to see you kind of a thing.”
    I laugh. “I’m glad to see you, too.”
    Neil relaxes casually against the doorframe, his green eyes twinkling in an oh-so-Neil impish way. He touches my cheek and says, “That’s probably because Rene is giving you shit about when my stuff will be out of here.”
    “She is not. She’s going to be thrilled when she gets back from class and finds you here.” I tilt my head toward the living room. “Come on in.”
    Neil ambles into the living room as I close the door and re-attach the chain. He stares at the disorderly room, and his laughter comes loudly this time as his chestnut waves dance on his shoulders when he shakes his head.
    He turns to smile at me. “Rene is going to be thrilled? Is that why there are boxes stacked floor to ceiling against the wall?”
    I scrunch up my nose, making a face at him. “Those aren’t for you . We move out next month. You know Rene and her lists and her hyper-organized tendencies. She made us start packing a week ago.”
    “Yep, that definitely sounds like Rene.”
    Neil sinks down on the couch and I settle close beside him, legs bent beneath me, my bottom resting on my heels.
    “So how long are you staying in Berkeley?” I ask.
    “Don’t worry. I’m leaving in the morning,” Neil teases.
    He says that in the familiar tone we banter with, but for some reason it makes cold needlelike pricks run the surface of my flesh. “You can stay as long as you want.”
    Neil’s expression changes and the smile leaves his face. He gives me a sharp once-over and frowns. “Are you OK, Chrissie?”
    I nod. “I’m great.”
    “Well, you don’t sound great.” His frown lowers and it looks like he’s seeing me more thoroughly and not liking what he sees. Inwardly, I cringe, and then he says, “And you don’t exactly look great either. In fact, you look really not good, Chrissie.”
    I flush and give him a pointed stare as I anxiously straighten my frumpy, oversized Cal sweats. “Thanks a lot. I’ve been throwing up all day. I think I ate something bad last night.”
    He crinkles his nose. “Sorry. I probably shouldn’t have said that, right? Not one of my swifter comments.”
    “Definitely, not one of your swifter comments. I didn’t feel like getting dressed today, but it’s nothing. Food poisoning.”
    He grimaces and then asks, “Do you need me to get you anything? Do you want me to make you some tea? That might be good in your stomach if you have a touch of food poisoning.”
    I shake my head, though Neil’s wanting to try to help me is unexpected and overwhelming. Even after everything that’s happened between us, he is still kind and caring Neil. How stupid I was to worry even for a minute that he would make this terrible for me.
    “I’m OK, Neil. You don’t need to make me tea. It’s not that bad right now. I’ll be better by morning.”
    He looks relieved and smiles. “Do you want me to come back tomorrow to get my junk? You look like you’re feeling pretty lousy. If you need to rest, I’ll get out of your way.”
    He doesn’t wait for an answer and starts to rise from the couch. I grab his arm. “No. Don’t leave. I’m fine. It’s not that bad. I thought you were going to stay here tonight, hang out so we could catch up.”
    His eyes widen and he looks surprised.
    “Really? I thought you wouldn’t want me here so I planned on grabbing a couch at a friend’s in the city.”
    For some reason I’m unexpectedly hurt by that. We parted in a