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He liked her. And that was not a good thing. What was worse was that he’d actually thought for a moment she liked him back. Had hoped, at least.
“She was looking really fine at Natalie’s cupcake shop the other day,” East said. And Dex flared with jealously. He knew his friend was trying to get a rise out of him, and it was working.
“She’s a fine woman,” Dex said around clenched teeth, moving on to his next harness to inspect.
“Yep, if I had a woman like that interested in me, I sure wouldn’t be here right now.”
Dex dropped his harness on the table and faced East.
“What are you trying to say?”
“Nothing, I just think it’s great you think you’re too good for her and all.”
That was the laugh of the year. “I don’t think I’m too good for her. She’s too good for me.”
“Aww, well isn’t that sad? Your feelings are hurt because she flaked on you? Treated you like crap?”
No, actually, she hadn’t done any of that. She’d treated him well. Never looked at him like he was less. But that wasn’t the point.
“She was looking for a good time. I gave that to her. That’s it.”
“If that’s all, then why have you been pissy these last few days?” East asked.
“I’m not. You’re making me pissy.”
“Nope, I think that ‘Good Time Dex’ is bummed because he wants the good times to keep going.”
“What I want is to check these harnesses and stop getting grilled by your ugly mug.”
“Ouch, and here I thought you were a smooth talker.”
He was! And that was the shit of it. He could handle women like Michelle when he knew the rules. Which were a night, a second night, maybe some morning sex. But more? No, he didn’t stick around for that, and they didn’t want him to stick around for that.
Easy, simple rules that kept him grounded. They were his tips for how to survive romantic entanglements.
And here he was coming dangerously close to breaking those rules.
Yeah, he wanted the good time to go on. And honestly, he had to get those last hours in. But his mom was right. He should have learned by now. Wanting Michelle and giving in to her were two totally different things. He knew better. He knew how this would end.
And it would end.
Then he’d be that guy she casually ran into at the supermarket. Not the kind of awkward place he wanted to end up. Not with her.
Deep down, he knew it was inevitable. Sooner or later. Her father picked out men for her for Christ sakes. And no way in hell would Dex ever be on that list. Even if he wanted to be.
“Well, at least you’ll get recertified and go back to the way things were,” East said with an exaggerated sigh.
Jesus, was his friend really trying to irritate him tonight?
“I still have a few hours left before Gage will sign off.”
And knowing Gage’s affinity for making his life hell, he’d make sure Michelle accounted for all the hours, down to the minute of training. There was no way Dex could explain the situation to Gage without coming across like an asshole. East was a single man, too, so at least he might understand. But Gage was so wrapped up in his Happily Ever After that he believed there was a happy ending waiting for everyone.
Dex knew that was bullshit. If he was ever going to find a happy ending with a woman, the last person he’d find it with was a woman like Michelle.
He had to see her again, though. To finish up this last part of training if nothing else.
But damn, he was hoping for something else.
