Likes to kiss me when I’m filthy.
I turn hot all over, and I know I should stop giving my attention to this smooth operator who breaks hearts like cheap umbrellas, but my fingers keep typing.Stupid, dumb fingers.
How did you even get my number, Gramps?
I texted it to myself that night in the bar when we took that adorable pic
I note that he doesn’t say “picfor Hayley” because that would be a warning shot I’m pretty sure neither of us wants to hear right now. Before I can reply, Dylan sends another message.
Are you mad I texted myself your number? You gonna get Robocop to arrest me?
Now there’s an idea…
Knew you’d take any excuse to get me into a pair of handcuffs
Nah, prison orange isn’t your color
You’re right… green is my color
I gaze at the handset, my mind making all sorts of leaps between that comment and the fact that Jade is a shade of green and I have green eyes.Chill. He probably looks good in green and knows it.
Don’t think I don’t notice you changing the subject
I’m owed a kiss. I earned it fair and square
“Jade.”
My head whips up to meet Nate’s glum face and hunched shoulders. I shove my phone into my back pocket. “Yes?” I ask, unable to hide my irritation that he’s here, interrupting me,again.
“Can we talk about earlier?” he asks in a wounded voice.
“Earlier?”
“I still can’t believe you kissed that prick.”
“Nate.” A knot of frustration forms in my chest. “Please let it go. It’s none of your business. You and I aren’t together anymore.”
“I know.” He huffs and shakes his head. “I get it. You want a break.”
“No, not a break. I’m happy to be friends, but the dating part is over. I’m sorry.” Jeez, we dated for five minutes and this guy’s acting like it’s the separation of the century.
“Fine,” he replies through his teeth. “If you want to degrade yourself by sleeping with that dirty-dick loser, knock yourself out. But don’t say I didn’t warn you when you get an STD. Because, believe me, he’ll screw anything that walks.”
My lips purse tightly as I give Nate a fed-up stare, deciding not to point out how offensive that last sentence was to me, not just Dylan.
“Thanks for the heads up,” I reply flippantly, refusing to let Nate see me rattled over this. “I gotta pack up here, so… sayonara.”
I push past him to begin unclipping olden-day photographs from the display despite having been halfway through a different task. I take down four photos before glancing over my shoulder, relieved to see the deputy sheriff long gone.God, what a fucking bully.
Even though I abandoned Dylan in the middle of our text chat, I leave my phone inside my pocket. Nate may have a horrible way of putting things, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an ounce of truth to what he said. Even if Dylan didn’t have a reputation for being a skirt-chasing playboy, he’s still my best friend’s brother. The thought of having to tell Hayley that we kissed clogs my stomach with dread.
I force myself to focus, and an hour later, I’ve got most things packed away when the gentle crunch of footsteps approaches behind me. Locals have been milling past all afternoon, but now that dusk has fallen, most people have gone home.
Somehow, I know it’s him before I even turn around. But when I do, I’m still not ready for the onslaught of clear-blue eyes that sparkle when he smiles. Heaven help me, I need one of those Three Stooges-style face slaps.
“You didn’t answer my text,” Dylan says casually, clutching something wrapped in paper.
“What text? Sorry, I was…packing up the booth.”
