Page 30 of Nothing At All

“Roman, just stop talking.” Vic pointed at the bar. “Go get us another beer.”

“We have a waitress–”

“Go.” She lifted her chin, staring him down. “Before I change my mind about later.”

He paused, then tilted his head and shrugged. Beer in hand, he ambled toward the bar.

“Motherfucker.” A helpless laugh shook Josh’s shoulders.

Dan shook his head, brows tugged together in confusion. He tipped his chin at Vic. “What do you see in that guy?”

“It’s a hookup, Gallagher. It’s not about his personality.” Her quiet laugh rang like soft bells. She smiled, a rueful twist of her lips. “I forgot you don’t do those.”

He shrugged, hand finding my waist again. “Don’t get the purpose.”

“It saves batteries.”

Josh choked on a sip of beer, and Lacey leaned into him with a snicker.

Vic studied Dan’s face, something softening in her expression. “He’s not the kind of man you marry, Gallagher.”

Dan blinked, his chin lifted in surprise. “You don’t date someone you wouldn’t marry, Ocampo.”

“She’s not dating him, genius.” Josh folded an arm about Dan’s neck and patted the center of his chest with his other hand. “She’s using him.”

Head tilted, Vic grinned and lifted her beer in acknowledgement. She turned her attention on me, gaze drifting over me like she was putting a puzzle together. “I’d apologize for Roman, but it’s pointless. I assure you he’ll spew more stupid shit before the night is over.”

Josh reached for a nacho. “The sex that good?”

“The sex is fantastic.” She took a long pull on her beer, then her smile widened, a hint of mischief in her eyes. She was really pretty, with high cheekbones and light green eyes with long lashes. “I have considered duct tape for his mouth, though.”

Dan glanced up from the table, where he’d been running a finger over the rounded edge. A slight frown carved a groove between his brows. “Is that some kind of kink?”

“No, Gallagher. Well, it can be . . .” She laughed. “But not with him.”

“Dude, you gave her a ride to the doctor?” Josh tagged Dan’s chest again, sliding a cautious glance at me.

“He told me.” I shrugged. They talked about Nicole? Not sure I liked her having that level of importance in his life, even if it was negative and limited.

Vic tilted her chin at Dan. “Good boy.”

“Pfft.” He shook his head. “I’m not stupid.”

“You gave her a ride.” Humor lightened Josh’s voice. “You might be.”

“I dropped her off, sat in the car for fifteen minutes, and drove her home.”

And now we were talking about her on our date when I hadn’t seen him all week. I was not giving her this space.

I tucked my arm through his and tilted my head toward the pool tables. “Want to play before we eat?”

He startled, like I’d pulled him from deep thought. What was that about?

“Um, yeah.” Ducking out from under Josh’s arm, he stepped back from the table. He folded a hand at my waist as Roman arrived. “See you guys.”

We moved away in a wave of acknowledgements. Roman’s muttered “His girlfriend’s hot“ drifted after us.

Dan’s steps faltered, and he half-turned before forcing the tension out of his body.