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“No, not yet. Hey, Kyle!” I call out, but he’s already heading to a table. “I’ll see you later, Mary.”
I catch up to Kyle. “You could’ve been friendlier to her. Mary is one of the nicest ladies in town. And unlike most people here, she doesn’t pay attention to gossip. That’s why she didn’t know you.”
“Good for her,” he says, taking a seat at the table.
“You’re still in a bad mood? Is this how you’re going to be the rest of the night?”
“If I keep getting interrogated, then yes.” He scoops up his shredded pork with his plastic spoon and shoves it in his mouth.
“Then just leave,” I say, getting angry. “Nina will give me a ride home.”
“Nina’s drunk. She’s not giving you a ride home.”
“Then Josh will. He’s not anasslikesomepeople.”
“I’m the ass?” He drops his spoon and turns to me. “I’m standing there, minding my own business, and Mr. Big Bad Cop comes storming up to me, asking questions and demanding answers like I’m a damn criminal.”
“Okay, yes, I agree that he needed to back off on the questions but he was just trying to get to know you.”
“And what if I don’t want him to? What if I have no interest in being that guy’s friend? What if I don’t want to tell him my life story? Does not answering his questions make me a criminal?” He huffs. “Is he going to arrest me now?”
“No, of course not.” I take a breath. “I’ll tell you what. If you agree to stay here an hour and not be in a bad mood, I promise I’ll keep Josh away from you.”
“I don’t need you to keep him away from me. I can handle him myself. But I shouldn’t have to. I shouldn’t have to even be here.”
“But you are because I asked you.” I soften my voice. “Because I like spending time with you. Not so much when you’re an ass but…”
His body relaxes and he gives me a slight smile. “Why do you like me? I seriously don’t understand why.”
“I don’t either.” I sigh, pretending to be annoyed with myself. “But for some reason I do. So I really don’t want you to leave.”
“Then I’ll stay.” He leans down and gives me a kiss. “Because I like you too. And I love spending time with you.”
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
SAGE
“Guess I was right,”a voice says from behind me.
I turn and see Jesse standing there, a bottle of beer in his hand. From the drawl in his voice, it’s clear he’s had too much to drink.
“Hey, Jesse,” I say in a carefree tone, as if the kiss he just witnessed isn’t a big deal. It’s good he saw me with Kyle but I don’t want him overreacting because of the kiss.
He motions to Kyle. “That’s why you won’t go out with me?”
“I wouldn’t go out with you even if I wasn’t with Kyle. I told you that before Kyle even came to town.”
“You think he’s better than me?” Jesse says, glancing at Kyle. “I have a business. I got my own place. What’s this guy got?” He swigs his beer. “Nothing. He’s got nothing, Sage.”
Kyle stands up. “Why don’t you go hang with your buddies? Sage and I are trying to have dinner.”
Jesse pokes him in the chest. “Who the fuck do you think you are? Coming into town and taking my girl.”
“I’m not your girl.” I get up and put myself between Jesse and Kyle. Jesse was just supposed to see me with Kyle, not get in a fight with him, but I should’ve known this would happen. When Jesse gets drunk, he gets stupid and does stupid things.
“Let’s not start something here,” Kyle says to Jesse. “I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“You seriously think you could take me?” Jesse asks, sticking his chest out. “I could fucking knock you out so fast you wouldn’t even have a chance.”
