“Because you like it when I fix your mistakes?”
“No,” I said, my voice rougher than I meant. “Because I like it when you stand close.”
Her hand paused midair. She looked up, her breath catching just enough to make my chest tighten.
Then she shook her head, stepping back with a scoff that didn’t quite land. “You’re impossible.”
“You keep saying that like it’s going to start hurting my feelings.”
She huffed, brushing past me toward the bar. “You don’t have feelings, Benedict.”
“Sure I do.” I followed, leaning against the counter beside her. “I’ve got at least one or two left. Think you’re responsible for both.”
That earned me an eye roll, but there was a faint blush creeping up her neck. She tried to hide it by reaching for her cocoa mug, which had gone cold.
“You want me to heat that up?” I asked.
“Don’t bother.”
“I insist.”
She sighed, handing it over. “You just like bossing people around.”
“Only the ones who argue back.”
Her lips twitched. “So… that’s what you look for in females?”
“Pretty much.” I grabbed the cocoa and put it in the microwave.
Travis, our cook, walked into the bar and grinned. “Evening, Drew.”
“How’s it going?” I asked, still glancing at Melanie.
“Great as always.” He walked into the kitchen as I removed Melanie’s mug.
“Try not to spill it when you storm off later.”
“I don’t storm off.”
“You’ve stormed off at least three times.”
“Ileave strategically.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Right. Strategic leaving. You should trademark that.”
She sipped her cocoa, watching me over the rim of her mug. “You think you’re funny, don’t you?”
“IknowI’m funny.”
“You’re something, alright.”
“Careful,” I said. “That almost sounded like a compliment.”
“Don’t get excited,” she said, turning away, but her smile, small and fleeting, was there.
It hit me right in the ribs.
The thing about Melanie was that she never did anything halfway. When she was angry, the room knew it. When she laughed, it was the kind of sound that made every noise around her fade. And when she tried not to care, God help anyone in her orbit, because she cared harder than most people even tried.
