The only logical explanation is whatever occurred between them is in the past and everyone has moved on.
“You ready?” Charlie tosses the ingredients into our cart.
“I am.” I’m not worried, nor am I jealous.
Still, this is information he should have revealed.
Especially considering everyone in town must know.
But he didn’t.
And sure, I could ask him, but what’s the fun in that?
The perfect opportunity to teach him a lesson will reveal itself.
Best to bide my time and be patient.
Charlie
* * *
“You said you had a grill.”
Jessica is being exasperating again, and it’s having the same effect on me as it always does. But as she stands across from me, innocently blinking like a babe in the woods, there’s something more.
An…amused affection I’m not sure I’ve ever felt before.
The two of us, along with Ryder and Sophie, are standing in a circle surrounding said “grill” in Jessica’s small backyard.
“I do.” Jessica gestures vaguely to the box we’re hovering over. “See? It’s right here.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “It needs to be assembled.”
She peers down at the large block of cardboard. “How hard can it be? I’m sure it won’t take more than a couple of minutes.”
I shake my head at Ryder. “Has she always been like this? Or is this something only I get the pleasure of?”
“Hey!” Jessica slams her hands on her hips. She’s changed from the skirt and blouse she’d worn to work into a pair of loose black cotton pants and a crop top. With her hair in a messy ponytail and her flashing eyes ready for battle at a moment’s notice, she’s so hot I can barely concentrate.
A grin slides across his face. “When she invites us for dinner, we assume we’ll end up ordering pizza at least half of the time.”
“Why am I not surprised?” My voice is dry.
Dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt, Sophie speaks up. “She makes a mean salad.”
Also not a surprise, based on her lecture in the produce aisle and her insistence on fresh and unprocessed food. She’s not a health nut, but she has lots of ideas about the way things should be.
Jessica huffs. “I don’t have to take this. It can’t be that hard. The guy at the store assured me I could do it myself.”
“Did he mention how long it would take to do it yourself?” I ask. She’s so impossibly adorable and sexy and chaotic.
“Not really.” She studies her nails. “Do you want me to do it?”
To Ryder, I say, “You in the mood to put together a grill?”
“Not high on my list right now.” He pulls out his keys from his pocket and uses one of them to open the box. “But since you already bought all the stuff, might as well get started so we’re not eating at midnight.”
I pull out the instructions as Ryder starts taking parts out of the box. I quickly scan the items required for assembly. “Do you have tools?”
