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“At all. It should only be reserved for children, babies, and old people.”

“Nah, it’s fuck some old people too. The nice ones can stay.”

Tittering, I said, “Let me find out I found my partner in hating the L word.”

“You did say that there was room in the club, right?”

I nodded, “I did. In fact, a COO position just opened up.”

“You think you can get me in?”

“I’m sure I could get that application approved. Only if you’re committed to the cause, though,” I winked, teasing him.

“If I say it, I mean it, sweetheart,” he grinned.

“Alright then,” I extended my hand. “Welcome to the we hate love team.”

Laughing lightly, he enveloped my hand in his. “Glad to be here, y’all got snacks?”

“Not for the general population, but I think I can make something shake for you. You know, since we’re cool now.”

“And here I thought we’d been cool the whole time.”

“Well, I guess we know which one of us doesn’t get paid to think, don’t we?”

“Damn, after that bonding moment, you’re right back to being mean to a nigga, huh? You’re like a leprechaun, tempting someone with a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow just to snatch it away.”

“I’m choosing to ignore that,” I smirked. “But let you tell it; this is my persona. So, I’ll always be mean, right?”

“Just because you can be, doesn’t mean you should be. I’m nursing a broken heart, remember? Have some sympathy.”

“My sympathy was the two free shots. If you need more than that, I’m going to have to charge you for my services.”

“I’m sure I make more than enough to cover whatever the charges are.”

“Remember that when it’s time for you to drop that tip,” I quipped, as another customer entered the pub.

Putting on my best customer service face, I left Jamie where he was and focused on work. As nice as his company was, it wouldn’t pay the mountains of bills that were piling up.

I may have been annoyed with human beings at the moment, but money was money. There was no surviving without it.

Especially with everything I had going on.

Chapter Six

JAMES

“I don’t believe it,” my father exclaimed, pacing the living room floor. “There’s no way. You had to have done something to run her off.”

Folding my hands, I glared at him as if he were crazy. I was secure enough in myself to know, at least when it came to the proposal, I hadn’t done a goddamn thing wrong.

The demise of this relationship was strictly on Kinsley. But, if I had done something to run her off, it would have been a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

“Pop, let it go. It is what it is.”

Pausing, he straightened up, folding his arms behind his back. “One thing I’ve always taught you boys was to never give up. Relationships included. You and Kins⁠—”

“Are over,” I interrupted, ignoring the way his face darkened. “And neither of us wants it back. I only told you what happened so you wouldn’t keep asking me about why she doesn’t come around anymore.”