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“I don’t like coffee,” Josie protested. She tried to hand the cup back, but the barista had already retreated back behind the counter. “I don’t like coffee,” she repeated.
“Tell you what, you drink that and sober up, I’ll give you a chai and chocolate croissant on the house.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask if he came with, but she hadn’t drunk enough. She was shocked she’d sent Kyle that text and then followed through with telling Hank that she thought he was hot. “I think you’re nice too,” she blurted out, needing him to know she saw more than his handsome face. “I even told my brother the truth. It was in a text, but I did it. I told him the truth.” She shifted from one foot to the other, her tongue darting out to flick across her lips. ‘Say something,’ she silently pleaded. Rejection would be better than the silence coming from Hank. Heat rushed to her cheeks when she realized she’d demanded he say something out loud. “Nevermind. Just...I drank a little too much, ok?” She took a step towards the door only to stop when Hank caught her arm.
“Why don’t we sit down,” he suggested. “You can drink your coffee and we’ll talk.”
“I should go.”
“Josie, come on. We should talk.” He gestured towards the table she had come to think of as his. “I enjoy talking to you.”
He enjoyed talking to her. Just what every woman wanted to hear. What had she been thinking? Just because he had been nice to her, and even flirted a little, didn’t mean he was interested in her. He was probably being nice because she was a regular, or he felt sorry for her after witnessing her dating debacles. “It’s okay. I get it.”
“I don’t think you do,” Hank muttered, raking a hand through his dark hair. “Look, I like you too, but I would rather have this conversation when you’re a little more sober.”
“You like me too?” A giddy sort of happiness rushed through her. It had been ages since she’d met someone she liked as more than a friend and they felt the same.
“I do. So why don’t we... ” Hank trailed off, his eyes focusing on whoever had just walked through the door. “Can you give me a minute?” She nodded, twisting to see who had captured his attention. Jonas and Kyle. Everything in her went still. She wanted to move, to find somewhere to hide before her brother spotted her. She could deal with Jonas, he wouldn’t bring up the text in public. Kyle was another matter. He wasn’t above saying whatever was on his mind, location be damned.
“Josie?”
It was Jonas who spotted her. His handsome face lit up, genuine excitement brightening his hazel eyes. “Hey,” she said weakly. Tears stung her eyes as Kyle and Hank both looked at her. The gig was up. If the hurricane of emotions churning inKyle’s eyes were any indicator, he wasn’t going to keep quiet until it was just the two of them.
“What the fuck, Josie,” Kyle hissed. His jaw visibly tensed and his fingers curled into fists.
‘I’m sorry.’ The words hung on the tip of her tongue, refusing to come out. Yes, she had lied. Yes, she had gone to great lengths to bring that lie into fruition. Neither of those things changed the fact that Kyle hadn’t thought twice about suggesting she had no life. She wanted to believe that he hadn’t hurt her on purpose but she wasn’t sure. Their own mother, who was usually Kyle’s biggest cheerleader, had supported her lie. “What do you want Kyle? Do you want to tell me how pathetic you think my life is again?”
“I never said your life was pathetic. I said I was relieved you found someone because I was worried you had given up.”
Each word was bit out and felt like another jab. “What does that even mean?” She shoved her fingers into her long hair, pushing it off her face. “Given up on what, Kyle? Life? Love? You’re going to have to be a little more specific.”
“Don’t turn this on me, Jo. I’m not the one who lied.”
Josie let out a choked sound when he stood there, a holier than thou look on his face. Eight years of rage boiled to the surface. “No, you’re just the one who sucks me dry.” Jonas cleared his throat, and asked if she’d tried the scones. She ignored him, keeping her focus on Kyle. “When daddy got sick, who gave up ballet to help mom take care of him? Who sat in the waiting room while they pumped him full of poison? When mom didn’t want to work because daddy was getting sicker and she wanted to spend as much time with him as she could, who took on an extra job to help pay the bills?”
“That’s not fair,” Kyle snapped. “New York was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“Is that what you tell yourself to feel better?”
“Fuck you.” Ugly, mottled red blotches cover Kyle’s face. He took a step closer, shrugging off Jonas’ hand when his fiance tried to stop him. “You always act like you’re such a martyr when nobody asked you to do any of those things.”
He was right. Nobody had asked her to give up ballet or work an extra job, but someone had to do something. Since no one else was stepping forward, she did it. It was her role in the family. Kyle was the golden child everyone loved, who did whatever he wanted, while Josie was the one holding it all together behind the scenes. “You’re right. Nobody asks because you all know I’ll already say yes.”
“Why don’t we all calm down,” Jonas soothed. “We’ll order some coffee, and laugh about what a small world it is.” Confusion and dread crept across Josie’s face. “Hank’s the guy Kyle and I were wanting to set you up with,” he explained once he saw the look on her face.
Hank was the blind date she had been avoiding. A bitter laugh burst out of her. It was Karma. Karma was screwing with her for lying. “I have to go.” As she stormed out the door, she could hear Hank demanding that someone explain what the hell was going on. Tears blurred her vision. So much for finally finding a guy she could see herself with. There was no coming back from the scene that just unfolded.
Chapter Eight
Hank
‘Loyalty and respect goes both ways. If they don’t return it, they don’t deserve it.’ - Unknown
Hank Mancini tore his gaze from the door Josie had just stormed out of and shot a thunderous look at the two men standing next to him. “What the hell just happened.”
“My fiance being a total dick.” A v formed between Jonas’ brows, his eyes flicking from the coffee shop door to Kyle and back again. He shook his head, his lips pressing into a thin line. “I told you to leave it alone,” he growled at his fiance.
“She lied,” Kyle hissed back.
