Chapter 111

“Well, she’s a sweetie.” He gave a final scritch to her ears and rose. “My name is Luke.” He held out his hand.

“Ty. I’m sorry.” I used the backpack in my arms as an excuse not to shake hands.

He cocked his head, and for a second I thought his gaze was on the birthmark on my neck, but then he looked into my eyes, a wry smile on his face. I waited for him to say something about such a blatant fabrication—he knew as well as I did I could have shifted the backpack into my other arm. He didn’t, and in spite of liking him, that made me nervous.

“I have to go.” I wasn’t going to explain to a stranger that I didn’t like being touched. “My friends are waiting for me. It was nice meeting you, Luke. And I apologize again for walking into you.” I lowered my sunglasses.

“It’s okay. Maybe we’ll run into each other again another time, Tyrell.”