AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Impossible. They’re scattered all over Europe.”
Jack sighs. “That’s all I’ve got.”
Jeez, what do I have to do to make Jack get the hint, flat out say it?Don’t say it. Don’t say it. You shouldn’t say it.
“We could always make out on the couch,” I say. As soon as the words leave my mouth my heart starts racing. “For fun, of course. If you’re into that kind of fun, I mean.”Stop talking stop talking stop talking.
Jack stops spinning the couch pillow and stares at me.
“Or we could... not do that,” I say. Why did I say it? Why? I knew I shouldn’t have, and I did it anyway.Thanks for nothing, frontal lobe.
Sebastian gets to his feet and stretches, then flops down next to Jack. “You’re really testing the limits of my moral fiber, you know,” Jack says.
I hug the couch pillow tighter. “Me or the cat?”
Jack looks up at me. “You, of course. Sebastian is too lazy for that. The worst he does is make me overspend on cat toys.”
I sigh. “Can we stop pretending we’re not into each other?”
“I’m not pretending to not be into you,” he says.
“So you’re just actually not into me?”
He ruffles his hair with a hand. “That’s not it. I’ve just been trying to... ignore... being into you. And doing a shite job of it, apparently.”
“So, just to clarify, youareinto me.”
Jack laughs. “Very much. And you’re... interested in me too.”
“Correct. So we’ve established that we’re both into each other.”
He nods. “I suppose we have.”
“Great.”
“Grand.”
“So...”
“It’s just... I know we said I’m not your boss, but I kind of am, right?”
Ah yes, how could I forget that Jack is mymost professional coworker? “Okay, so you own the pub.”
“Exactly, which is why—”
I hold up a hand. “However, I think you can relax a little.”
Jack doesn’t look convinced.
“This is not my career,” I continue. “It’s not like anyone is vying for my job.Everyonehas been pushing us at each other. Aoife, Nina, Róisín. No one cares if we have a little... fun.”
“Fun,” Jack says. He looks away to pet Sebastian but doesn’t say anything. The silence stretches on until I can’t take it anymore.
“Jack?”
He lifts his head and smiles. I wish I could read the emotion there, but I can’t. He looks all mixed up, like he doesn’t know what he thinks or feels.
“I’d really like to have fun with you, Raine,” he says, “Whatever kind of fun that is. Laser tag. Ice skating.”
