Page 55 of Freeing Lark

Eggs laughed. Hoot looked toward the bell still impressed with Lark’s handiwork. He could understand why she’d become so attached to it.

Spark nudged him. “So.”

Hoot knew that tone. “No.”

“I haven’t said anything.”

“You were going to.”

“How’s Lark?” he asked, ignoring Hoot’s attempt to avoid the subject of the woman he couldn’t get off his mind.

“Fine.”

Eggs chuckled. “That’s not what he meant.”

“Then ask something else.”

Spark grinned. “You like her.”

“Is that a question?”

“You gonna answer it?”

Hoot stared at him. “No.”

Eggs opted for a different approach, turning the same phrase into an actual question. “You like her?”

Hoot gritted his teeth. “I don’t.”

“You’re here because you’re worried about her.”

“Worry doesn’t equal like,” he tried.

“Keep telling yourself that,” retorted Eggs.

“What he said,” Spark concurred. Hoot glared, and his friends both laughed. “You should see yourself.”

“Funny.”

“Just telling it like it is.”

Hoot shook his head before turning the tables on them. “Wait until it’s your turn.”

Eggs’ smile vanished. “What does that mean?”

Hoot smiled. “Nothing.”

Spark’s eyes widened. “Oh, he’s talking about Meli.” Meli was the owner and bartender of Hooch & Harmony. They had all witnessed the banter between the pair on numerous occasions.

Eggs groaned. “Leave Meli out of this.”

Hoot raised an eyebrow. “Why should we?”

“There’s nothing between Meli and me. She’s the bane of my existence.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Hoot retorted, using his own words against them.

“He does talk about her a lot,” Spark reasoned.