Page 117 of Red Marked

“What the fuck, Star?” I snarl.

She holds it up toward the male, and he grins and toasts her with his beer. He winks at her.

“If you give me a pen, I’ll write down my number.” It’s the annoying-as-fuck waitress again.

I turn to her. “Are you for real right now? Could you give us some space, please?”

Her face falls. She straightens, mumbles something about the food, and goes away.

Thank fuck.

The asshole gets up from his barstool. Great, he’s coming over.

Of course he is. Star drank the damned shot, which is the same as saying “I’m interested.”

“Tell him to fuck off,” I say, “or I will.”

“It would just be a dance. Unless you want to dance with me?”

Is she toying with me?

“No, I don’t.”

“I’m single.” Star folds her arms on the table. “Maybe I want to talk to him or dance with him. I’ll come back when my food is ready. We can talk some more then.”

“You have got to be shitting me, Star.”

He’s three steps away. I stand up and turn to him.

“Fuck off,” I all but snarl.

Whatever the male sees on my face causes him to back up quickly. He walks to the far end of the bar without looking behind him.

Good!

Fuck!

I sit back down.

“Why did you do that, Flint? You’re acting like an asshole.”

“I get it…okay?” I tell her.

“You get what?”

“You’re hurt,” I say, quieter now. “Seeing Jett with another female upset you. You don’t have to⁠—”

“I am not hurt,” she says in a rush. “Don’t put words into my mouth. I haven’t had sex in a very long time. Once we go back to the rehab center, every male I work with is out of bounds. I’m young, and I’d like an orgasm that doesn’t involve my own hand. So sue me.”

“Every male in here is an asshole.”

“I’m sure you’re exaggerating.”

“I’m not.” I lean in. “I know it for a fact, Star, because not that long ago I was one of them. I was the guy sending the shot across the bar because I wanted to get laid.” I drag both hands down my face and groan into them. “This is self-destructive shit. Don’t do it. You’re better than this.”

“Just because you’ve gone celibate doesn’t mean the whole freaking world has as well.” She spreads her hands. “You’re being unreasonable. I’m sorry to say, but you seem jealous.”

Am I?