AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She held it, her face scrunched up over an internal debate that likely had her torn between staying against the wall where she was or having to stand closer to the grill. I lifted a brow when she let out a half-defeated sigh and dropped her shoulders, stepping away from the brick.
“I guess I should stand over here?”
I chuckled, lifting the lid from the grill. “You can stand wherever you want to.” It came out sounding harsher than I’d intended.
She fidgeted, moving her weight from one foot to the other. She was uncomfortable, opening and closing her mouth before staying where she was. Simone straightened her spine, holding the tray in one hand and pulling her phone from the pocket of her tight jeans. She shook her head, typing out a quick text and tucking it back.
I watched Auston flirting with Sky, both of them surrounded by a cloud of smoke with their lips hugging their cigarettes. My eyes bounced from them to the girl next to me and then the grill, and I cleared my throat. I was terrible at small talk, even more so when I didn’t want to talk to her at all. Groaning, I opened my mouth, ready to say something.
“Hey, Simone,” Sky called, putting the cigarette out and stuffing it in the trash can, “I’m going to go inside and grab another drink. You good out here? Need anything?”
Simone looked at the tray in her hand and back to where Sky opened the door, shaking her head. “I’m good. I’ll hold this tray for the princess here, and I’ll be right behind you in a bit.” She chuckled at her own joke, and I rolled my eyes.
“I didn’t ask you for help,” I snarled.
She lifted her brow and smirked. “Oh? Well, if you don’t need someone to hold this, then…” Simone held the tray out towards me, cocking her head.
She was right.
“Fine.” I looked at her, the satisfied look on her face making my stomach churn. I groaned. “Just… don’t annoy me, okay?”
“Don’t annoy you? What exactly do you think I’m going to do?”
What did I think she was going to do? I had no idea. I pictured my younger sister poking me or throwing little things at me. “I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put it past you to find something.”
She sighed, ending the conversation. We stood there without a word while I took hamburgers and hot dogs off the tray and dropped them onto the grill. The sound of the cold meat on the hot metal sizzled and filled the silence.
“So…” I started, unsure how long I could stand there awkwardly silent like that. “The other night?”
Simone stiffened and shut her eyes, sucking in a deep breath. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Why not?” I placed the lid back on the grill, taking a long drink of my beer before continuing. “Where did you learn to manhandle someone like that?”
“I’ve worked a lot of places, okay?”
What the hell was that supposed to mean? “You’ve worked a lot of places that require you to kick a man’s ass like that?”
She huffed. “I’m not helpless, Logan. I’ve worked in a lot of bars that had some rougher patrons, and I had to defend myself. I took a few basic self-defense classes.”
I imagined what the bars she had worked at in the past were like. A small tinge of guilt tugged at my stomach. Is that why she’d moved to Grand Rapids? I ran the last couple of weeks through my mind, remembering the harsh exchanges with Simone.
“I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with that.” My voice was softer, causing her eyes to widen in surprise.
“It’s really not that big of a deal.” She looked away from me, turning her gaze to the asphalt beneath her sandals.
I sighed, taking the tray from her and forcing her attention back to me. “I think it’s a big deal, Simone. That guy shouldn’t have… I respect that you stood up for yourself. Maybe that was what he needed to have happen. Like maybe he’ll learn his lesson.”
She giggled, covering her mouth. It was a contrast to her usual open-mouthed, head-tilting laugh. “I doubt it. Guys like that never learn.” I barely noticed the cringe that crossed her features before it was gone.
“Some guys don’t have to,” I said softly. Simone smiled, shaking her head and laughing. “What’s funny?”
“Turns out you’re softer than you let on. Maybe even sensitive.”
Sensitive? “I’m not soft or sensitive just because I know not to assault a woman.” I sounded defensive, and I probably was.
“I didn’t say it was a bad thing. There’s nothing wrong with being sensitive.” Her green eyes were almost glazed over when she looked up at me, like they were different from the eyes that had been glaring at me since she started. For a moment, I didn’t hate her.
“There’s nothing wrong with having to learn how to defend yourself either.”
