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We finish our food—me digesting what Savy said more than the grilled cheese on my plate—when a flash of yellow at the front door snags my attention.
Kellen walks in with his other crew, neon vests flashing over dusty clothes, waiting to be seated by Bree.
He spots me and gives me a head nod, which I return against my very base desire to ignore him.
“Who’s that?” Savy asks, her intrigue piqued, clear by her exaggerated western drawl.
I snort. “Roll your tongue back in your mouth, Savannah. That’s Kellen.”
She faces me. “That’s who Scarlett went on a date with?”
“Yeah, here’s a napkin for the drool pooling on the table.” I joke, but my ribcage wrenches tight.
She frowns. “I wasn’t drooling. I mean he’s…”
“Yeah, yeah, I know he’s a good-looking dude.”
“Whatever. You better put on your game face because he’s on his way over here now.” She busies herself with her phone and slouches in the booth as Kellen steps up to our table.
“Hey,” he says, shoving his hand in his pocket, the other running over his short blonde hair.
“Hey man. Lunch break?” Just stating the obvious because hell if I know what he wants.
“Yeah. Can I talk to you for a second?” He glances over at Savy. “Sorry if I’m interrupting something.”
I shake my head. “This is Savy, my sister-in-law.” I turn to her. “Give me a sec, I’ll be back.”
She bobs her head and gives Kellen a polite wave before angling her head down to her phone. I slide out of the booth and follow him outside the diner.
“This is a nice place,” he surmises, eyes squinting as the afternoon sun blinds us.
“Yeah, it’s great. What can I do for you? Everything going okay at the job site?” I walk us to an empty picnic table and thump down on top of it, resting my boots on the seat, while Kellen rocks on his heels, hands shoved deep into his dirt-stained jeans.
“Oh, sure, it’s moving along nicely. We’ll finish well before schedule.”
“Good to hear. Scarlett will be happy.”What’s the fucking point to this small talk?
“Yeah. Speaking of her, I wanted to ask you for advice.” He shifts his steel-toed boot in the gravel.
I cross my arms. Last time I gave him advice, he acted it out word for word. “And why would I do that?” I gruff out.
He brings his mossy gaze to mine, a rut carved between his brows. “Well, why not? She’s your friend.”
“Exactly. And you took everything I said and regurgitated it on your date. You don’t really steal plastic swords from the fruity drinks for your nephews, do you?”
His eyes shutter closed as he leans his head back before sighing. “No, I don’t. I was nervous. Didn’t want to mess it up.”
“She’d probably rather you be nervous than a fraud.”
“I know, man. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. Can you help me out? Tell me more about her?”
I scoff. “Isn’t that what dating is for, or did the rules change on me?”
“She’s hard to read. I thought we had a good time, but since then and that stupid fucking wall, she’s been distant.”
“Perhaps she’s just not into you.” I let the snark bleed out.
“Why do you have to be a dick?” he retorts, his eyes boring into mine, clearly irritated things aren’t going in his favor. I, on the other hand, internally cheer.
