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Sweeping my gaze up, her eyes zero in on mine. Rowan and Kellen disappear. It’s just me and Scar. Like it should be. Chest thumping, I hold out my hand toward her and she glances down before slowly sliding her warm hand in mine. I turn it palm up and code, sweeping and tapping my finger gently on hers.
Hi.
She smiles and codes back, her fingers electric pulses in my hand.Hi.
U Ok?
Her head swivels and she rolls her lips inward before turning back to me and nodding almost hesitantly.
“What are you doing?” Kellen’s voice cuts in and I startle, still clutching Scarlett’s hand. His hard face contorts, his jade eyes narrowed with envy.
“It’s fine, Kellen. Grey and I have this thing we do. No big deal.” She slides her hand from mine and I instantly feel the loss. No big deal—it’s big to me.
“You’re supposed to be here with me, not holding hands and doing whatever that is with your fingers.” He snarls, and it’s Scarlett who flinches.
“Look, man, this isn’t necessary. It’s inno—”
But he interrupts. “Let her speak for herself. Scarlett, are you going to sit here and play handsy with your friend and tell me it’s just innocent?”
I stiffen, my adrenaline simmering, begging to let loose and drag him out of the restaurant and toss him to the curb where he belongs.
Rowan interjects. “I suggest you lower your tone. We’re in a restaurant.”
“I don’t care where we’re at. Are you going to sit there and let them do that? We’re supposed to be on a double date.”
Now, he’s whining, and it’s not a good look.
Rowan chuckles and picks up her fork, spearing a green bean before addressing him. “I’m not a jealous woman. Sounds like you could use a lesson in humility.” She swallows and mumbles for only my ears to hear, “It’s no wonder I usually prefer females.”
Kellen huffs out a laugh lacking in humor before turning to Scarlett. “Come on, let’s go. I’ve had enough of this. We can talk about what just happened on the way home.”
My body jolts. There’s no way she can leave with him. Raising to my feet, I pause as Scarlett turns to Kellen.
“You may go. But without me. I do not answer to you or anyone. I answer to myself. Grey and I are friends, and it’s childish that you can’t handle it. Well, I’m afraid to tell you I will not be choosing you over him, so please just go before you embarrass yourself even more.” She blows out a breath and gets out of the booth to let a fuming Kellen slide out.
He stands and sneers at me before leaning down and getting close to Scarlett’s face, speaking loud enough for all of us to hear. “You two can have each other. This little bitch got stars in his eyes whenever he’d talk about you, anyway. Should’ve known he’d be a thorn in my side. I don’t need fucking complications. I’m out.” He stalks out of the restaurant and silence descends on the table.
I raise my eyes to Scarlett’s; the confusion smeared all over her face.
“I’m going to call an Uber and let you two talk.” Rowan rubs my shoulder before I get up to let her out of the booth.
“I’m sor—”
Her finger up in the air silences me. “I’ll talk to you later.” Addressing Scarlett, she squeezes her arm before slinging her purse up over her shoulder. “Nice to see you again.”
Scar nods and watches her leave before facing me, her hands clasped together on top of the table. I itch to place my palm over hers, to touch her, comfort her, but I wait for her to talk, each second passing a hammer to my already racing heart.
“What did he mean when he said you guys talked about me?”
The rock lodges further in my throat. “I may have told him a few things about you.”
She crunches up her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
I sigh. “All those things you thought you had in common with him? He got those from me. I told him about Tito’s, the little plastic swords, the bookstore.”
“The chocolate cake with sprinkles?” she asks timidly.
I nod, swallowing that jagged rock. “Yes.”
“Why?”
I bark out a laugh. “Why? Because you deserve someone who will pay attention to those little details about you. You’ve had such bad luck with all those other guys over the years. I wanted you to have a good time with him. I didn’t think he was going to literally tell you things that weren’t true.” My sweaty palms stick to the tabletop and my chest splits in anticipation of her response.
I can’t read her like I normally can. She’s closed off, and it’s killing me.
“I… I need a minute. Be right back.” She hurries from the booth and rushes out the front door, her lavender and cotton scent giving me zero comfort.
Hanging my head, I cringe in disbelief and berate myself for not saying something sooner. Fuck. I may have lost her trust, the one thing she needed from me the most.
