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But I sure as hell wasn’t sticking around for someone else’s complicatedsituationship.
If Jackson had responsibilities back home, then I wasn’t getting in the way of those.
I think of Axel, whose leg was busted, and soon after that, his colleague who died in action. And as each name passes through my mind, my scowl grows more pronounced. “I don’t know who you’re talking about, Viv. I didn’t have a date organized for tonight.”
“Not even with Raul?” A door closes on her end of the line, her voice still a whisper, though verging toward playful. Taunting. “Wait. Who did you think I was talking about?”
“I don’t know!” I sit on the edge of the booth seat and glance through the windows and into the street outside. But because it’s dark out there, and bright inside the diner, my view is hampered by my own reflection. “My dating life iscursed.” I shiver. “So sue me for wondering which of the hundred men I’ve interacted with this past year was back to haunt me. What does Raul want? And why are you whispering?”
“Because he’s in the living room,” she hisses. “With Chinese food and a bottle of wine.”
A long, frustrated groan rolls along my throat as I press my thumb to my temple. “Butwhy? He’s supposed to be with Gina and her brother tonight. And I said I didn’t wanna hang out.”
“Well according to him, you said you werestaying in for the night,” she whispers. “So I guess he considered that an invitation for takeout and company. What do you want me to say?”
“Nothing. Just—”
“I could tell him you’re out with Axel,” she offershelpfully. “Or that you’re in the bathroom with an explosive case of diarrhea. Personally, I prefer the second.”
I choke out a laugh and press my forehead to the table. “First of all, you’re gross and concerningly immature. Not a good look, considering your advanced age.”
“Advanced,” she scoffs. “Kiss my ass, Sullivan. I’m still on the good side of twenty-five.”
“Uh-huh.”Barely. “Second, I’ll call him myself and tell him I’m with Axel.”
“Are you sure? Because he seems a little…” she lowers her voice to a mousy squeak. “Friend-zonedand not at all pleased about it.”
“Why is everyone harping on about that lately? Jesus.” I lift my head, and jump in my seat when I find Axel standing just a foot away.
His silver eyes watch me curiously, and the thick veins in his arms stand out in contrast to the perfect tan he picked up by following the summer sun these last few months.
Nerves hammer in my blood as I press a hand to my thundering heart. But I shake my head when his brows lift in question.
“Raul and I have been friends for a long time, Viv. But now, suddenly everyone wants to make it a thing. Why weren’t you whispering and conjuring a cover story for me a month ago whenever I went somewhere without him?”
“Because Axel Feeney wasn’t in the picture a month ago,” she counters dryly. “And you were never without Raul. A month ago, you wereactinglike acouple, and I guess everyone kinda accepted it as our new normal. You and him,together.”
“But we were never together!” I bite out. Too loud. Too attention-grabbing. So I lower my voice and grit my teeth. “Just. Friends.”
“Didheknow that? Because from where I sat, he was on our couch five nights a week, bringing takeout and wine then, too. You were snuggled up together in the evenings, and working together during the day. You were doing couple-y things, Han.”
“Are you and I a couple?”
I ignore Axel as he sits in the booth opposite me and tries to piece together my half of the conversation.
“You and I sleep in the same home seven nights a week,” I tell her. “We eat dinner together most nights. We drink wine. We watch trash TV. Hell, you were lying on my bed an hour ago. Are we friends, Viv? Or a couple? Because you don’t get to apply that rule for one and not the other.”
“Well, I do love having you around. But I like penis, so…”
I cough out an exasperated giggle and shake my head. “Raul and I are friends. That’sallwe are. It’s all we’ve ever been. And since we’re on the subject, he has a girlfriend.”
“Uh-huh. And have you ever actually met her?” Her voice grows a little louder. A little bolder, like she has no qualms offending the man in the next room. “Have you ever spoken to her face to face? Do we have proof of life?”
“You’re insane.” I roll my eyes and allow my lips to curl when Axel reaches across and takes my hand. His long, thick fingers slide along my wrist and send goosebumps racing beneath my skin until they touch my toes. “Do we have proof of life for your one-night stand? Because from where I’m sitting, maybe he doesn’t exist. Maybe you’re getting lonely and delusional.”
“You’re being spiteful and mean,” she sniggers, unoffended. “But even if I was only imagining his body folding mine six ways from Sunday, I wouldn’t be mad about it. If I’m lucky, I could conjure that delicious fantasy on demand and never have to worry about dating ever again. But we’re not talking about me, we’re talking about you. So what do you want me to say to yourotherboyfriend?”
“I want you to not call him my boyfriend,” I growl.
