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Shitty that the first time I see her in months, Lawrence is across from her.
“It’s not what it looks like,” he says as he slides in the booth.
“No?” I lace my fingers and set my hands on the table. “What is it then?”
He huffs, drops his eyes to the table, and shakes his head. “It’s complicated.”
“Uncomplicate it until I understand.”
Lawrence brings the heels of his palms to his eyes, digging his nails into his scalp. Gone is the dark, edgy man from the pub. This Lawrence is frustrated and annoyed and fed up. The longer he sits in silence, the angrier I get. Sandi points to a Reuben with potato salad and a pickle. I hold up my hand for her to wait.
Dropping his hands, Lawrence straightens in his seat. He looks off to the side and shakes his head. Already, I hate where this is headed.
“Yes, we dated. I broke it off. More than once. But she hasn’t gotten the memo.”
How hard is it to break up with someone? Things aren’t working. Peace out. Seems pretty straightforward.
“Well, until she does”—I gesture between the two of us—“this can’t happen. I don’t need her drama or to be branded with a scarlet letter.”
Although… the idea of tarnishing Kelli’s image has me warm and fuzzy.
“Fuck.” He hangs his head.
And then an idea sparks. “Mmm. Soon, I hope.”
Chapter Six
LAWRENCE
How do I detach myself from Kelli?
Stupid. Fucking. Question.
Dating isn’t like marriage. You don’t get a certified document when it starts or ends. It just happens. But how does it work when one party refuses to let go? Do I stand in the middle of RJ’s, the eyes of thirty plus townspeople on me, and confess my nonexistent relationship with Kelli Langston?
Embarrassed as she’d be, that won’t push her away. She’d simply retaliate. Make a mockery of me.
Skylar sits motionless across the table, arms crossed and pushing up her breasts, lips shifting left to right. Her gaze holds mine, darkness rimming her jade irises. A hidden trick up her sleeve.
“Why so quiet?”
A conniving smile tugs at her lips. The look rests oddly on her delicate features. Her eyes drift across the restaurant, then meet mine again. “Wasn’t kidding when I said I don’t need her drama. But…”
“But what?” My tone harsher than I intended.
“She believes you’re in a relationship?” I nod. “But you don’t?”
I really hate repeating myself. “Correct. Can’t seem to shake her.”
“What do you think would shake her?” Skylar straightens her spine and rests her forearms on the table, leaning forward. If I had the answer, Kelli would have been gone long ago. “A woman like her keeps up with appearances. Wants people to look up to her. Bow down to her.”
Where is the reserved woman I met weeks ago? The one who sat at the bar, sipped her beer, and resisted dancing with her friend. Skylar and I haven’t spent time together since that night, but we chat daily. I may not know her, but I never sensed this side of her. A darker side.
This side is fucking hot.
Never understood the adage watch out for the quiet ones until now.
I peer over my shoulder, spot the sneer on Kelli’s lip before she replaces it with a fake smile. “All true,” I say as I turn back to face her. “But it takes a lot to ruffle her feathers.”
