“Twenty-seven,” Jack answers, his voice low, but clearly annoyed, snide is more like it. Definitely snide.
“Is that supposed to be the age ceiling for dating?” Caine presses.
“Not helping,” I quip between clenched teeth.
“Sorry,” he mutters, turning his gaze back to the road.
His eyes dart to me, and he gives me this adorable pouty face like he’s all worried I’m mad at him, which I am… or trying to be… butthat face! His blue eyes, his thick black lashes. The man is too cute! It’s not fair! I can’t stay mad at him.
The fucker!
I force myself to frown. He lifts my hand again and kisses it.
“Are you even listening to me?” Jack yells.
“What?”
“Were you just making out?” he accuses.
“I’m driving. Easy answer, no,” Caine says.
Now he’s being snide.
I squeeze his fingers. Hard.
“You’re making eyes at each other!”
“We are listening!” I’m over this conversation already.
“So, you’re staying in Texas?” Jack asks.
“Yes.”
Caine looks over at me, surprised. I look at him just as surprised.
“I’m hoping to find a job here.”
“Are you pregnant?”
“Hey!” Caine says defensively. “I get the big brother act, but don’t be a dick. You know she isn’t pregnant. Well, if she was, we’d have no way of knowing… right?” He looks at me, worried.
“You’re an idiot.”
He just smiles at me. The fucker! I smile back.
“Stop it!” Jackcomplains. “Fine. I guess I’m coming to visit.”
“Don’t sound so upset about it. It’s beautiful here. It’s perfect.”
“Are you living together?” Jack asks.
“No, I’m moving into an apartment of my own,” I tell him proudly. “And I’ll be paying rent!” I add. I look at Caine. “I’ll be paying rent, right? How much is the rent?”
“He’s making you pay rent?” Jack yells. “What kind of boyfriend makes his girlfriend pay rent?”
“The kind whose girlfriend backs him into a corner and wants to beindependent,” Caine says, emphasizing independent like it’s a bad word.
“That’s stupid,” Jack says. “Why are you being stupid? I’m gonna have to pay your boyfriend rent. How is that independent?”
