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“Don’t worry about her,” Sierra comments, bumping her shoulder against mine as I painfully gawk at Rex and Blockzilla. “He doesn’t want her.”
My eyes narrow when the girl slides her hand up his arm. “Rex wants any woman who looks in his direction.”
Flirty women are a constant when we go out. They attempt to force themselves onto him while I play indifferent and fake that it doesn’t hurt my heart. Rex never entertains it, but that still doesn’t stop my envy.
“No, babe, he wants you.” Sierra releases a heavy sigh. “He’s scared. Maliki was like that. He just needed a little convincing.”
I transfer my attention to Sierra. “Convincing how?”
I halfway know the answer to my question. She and Maliki played a cat-and-mouse game for years, ever since she was eighteen and snuck into his bar.
She nudges her head toward where Rex is standing, but I stop myself from looking back. “Call him out on his bullshit. Call him a chickenshit until he stops acting like a chickenshit. And if all else fails, date someone else. Scare him into getting his head out of his ass.”
“You and Maliki are different than me and Rex. We’ve been friends for years. Plus, you’re bolder than I am. I’m pretty much a chickenshit, too.”
“You’re a total badass, and my brother is head over heels for you. He’s just too stupid to admit it.”
She throws her arm out, motioning toward Rex, and I brace myself to be upset as I peek over at him. He’s ditched the girl and dodging bodies while heading in our direction.
“See!” she cries out. “Y-O-U!”
Rex takes his place by my side again, interrupting our conversation, and Sierra glances up at Maliki with a grin when he joins us and says hi to everyone. He kisses Sierra, whispering words against her mouth, and they become disgustingly cute.
“Another one of your women?” I question Rex, a frown on my face before I shove a nacho into my mouth.
“Nope,” he replies with a straight face.
I narrow my eyes at him.
“What?” He shrugs. “She asked if I’d buy her a drink. I said no. She then asked if she could buy me a drink. I respectively declined like the gentleman I am and walked away.” He shrugs again. “No biggie.”
“I’m amazed you didn’t take her up on her offer,” I grumble.
“Not interested. I’d never ditch you for another chick.”
“Oh. My. Freaking. God!”
Her shrill voice hits me right before Candy comes into our view. She halts at our table, as if someone hit the brakes on her legs.
I dip my head down and cover half my face with my hand, fully aware she’s about to make a scene.
“If it’s not the happy couple making it official!” she shrieks. She pouts out her lower lip when her green eyes cut to Rex. “It sucks you’re off the market, but I’m happy someone nice like Carolina snagged you!” Her words come out in a slight slur. “She’s a keeper. Don’t you go breaking her heart, or I’ll break your thumbs! And it’s hard to play video games without thumbs.”
This is not happening.
Out of all places, she announces it in front of a crowd of people.
Every muscle in my body stiffens, my heart clamoring against my chest while I struggle not to freak the hell out. Rex’s hand sweeps underneath the table, settling on my thigh, and he tenderly squeezes it.
“What?” nearly everybody at the table asks in their own manner.
It takes me a moment to uncover my face, and my gaze swiftly darts around the table, taking in everyone’s response. Excitement. Happiness. Curiosity. Not one person appears pissed as their attention bounces back and forth from me to Rex.
“Whoa, did I miss something?” Kyle asks. “Is it finally happening?” He gestures between me and Rex. “Did you two finally get your heads out of your asses and admit you’re in love?”
“Sure did!” Candy answers for us with extra pep in her voice. “You should’ve seen them at the diner.” She folds her hands over her chest. “Swoon!”
We were so not swoon.
