I set down my crumpled napkin, tempted to punch her in the face, the same way I socked a kid in the third grade when he told me my mother’s behind was as big as an elephant’s. Now that I think about it, the reason I didn’t get into more trouble for that was probably because Mr. Peebles was already gaga for my mom.
Just like you’re starting to feel something for Cormac.
But no. No. The voice in my head is dead wrong.
There’s nothing between Cormac and me, and there can’t be. But that doesn’t mean I have to accept Pansy’s bullshit take.
I suck in a deep breath and let it seep out. “Pansy, that would be a terrible reason for dating someone. I’m with Cormac because I want to be with him. I’m with him because he’s smart, and kind, and funny.”
“I thought we were becoming friends,” she says with a sigh, as if I’m the asshole here. “You can level with me, and I’ll level with you. I thought José had a lot more money when I met him. He was wearing this expensive suit and that Rolex his godfather gave him. I didn’t find out until later that he’d sunk his trust fund into the brewery.”
I gape at her.
What the actual fuck?
Why is she telling me all of this?
The answer trips through my head a second later: she can say whatever she wants. If José’s not around to hear it, it’ll only be hearsay, more evidence of me bullying her.
“Is that why you tried to get him to leave?”
She tilts her head toward her shoulder, the gesture almost lazy. “I didn’t want him to be financially tied to anotherwoman. You understand. He wouldn’t even tell me how much he’d invested in the brewery. I had to look for myself.”
Which explains why she was snooping in my office two weeks ago, presumably.
I still want to throttle her, but it wouldn’t do much for myget José to break up with her but not leave the breweryplan.
She waves a hand. “You understand. But things are different now.”
Yes, they are. Because I’m even more determined to get her the hell out of all of our lives.
The guys emerge onto the patio with cold drinks that immediately start to sweat. Cormac sets one down in front of me. “Whiskey ginger.”
He smiles at me as he sits down beside me. His eyes watch me from behind his glasses—those endless pools of warm gray, surrounded by thick lashes.
On impulse, I lean in and kiss his cheek, taking in his familiar, crisp scent. “Thank you.”
“It’s just a drink.”
But it’s not. He’s gone above and beyond for me. “Thank you.I appreciate you.”
His expression softens further.
“Here.” José practically smacks a glass of cider down in front of Pansy before he resumes his seat next to me.
She hasn’t even started her presentation, and he’s already aggravated. That’s a good sign, but honestly, I can’t stop looking at Cormac.
“Nora was just telling me she’s so crazy in love with you,” Pansy tells Cormac conspiratorially, leaning into his bubble.
He adjusts his chair toward me and takes a long sip of his drink, which looks like straight whiskey. “That doesn’t sound like Nora.”
José suppresses a laugh, which turns unconvincingly into a cough.
“Well, she was.” Pansy crosses her arms over her chest. “We’re so happy for you two, and we’re honored you trust us to keep your secret.”
“We don’t have much of a choice, do we?” Cormac remarks. “But thank you, I guess.” He glances my way. “We drive each other crazy.”
I tap my foot against his under the table.
